Life at molecular, cellular and tissue level notes

LIFE AT
MOLECULAR,
CELLULAR AND
TISSUE LEVEL

, Terminology
chromatin: chromosomal material made up of DNA, RNA and histone proteins as found
in a non-dividing cell

Gene: a section of a DNA strand

replication: the process of making a new DNA molecule from an existing DNA molecule
that is identical to the original molecule

prokaryotes: organisms without a nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelle.
Most are unicellular bacteria

eukaryotes: organisms with a cell nucleus and many membrane-bound organelles, e.g.
animals, plants, fungi and protists

protein: a long chain (polymer) of small units(monomers) called amino acids

mutagen: physical or chemical agents that induce and speed up mutations in DNA

mutation: any alteration in the genetic makeup (genetic code) of an organism

DNA profile: an individual's unique DNA fragments, separated by electrophoresis

polymerase chain reaction: a technique for rapidly making large quantities of a DNA
segment that involves separating the DNA into its two complementary strands, using
DNA polymerase to make a two-stranded DNA from each single strand and repeating
the process