BIO 205 – Genetics Key Terms and Concepts, definitions, genomics, inheritance, mutations, RNA, proteins, molecular biology

This document provides a glossary of key terms and concepts for Biology 205 Genetics. It defines critical terms related to DNA, RNA, proteins, mutations, inheritance, and genomics. This serves as a concise and essential study guide for genetics coursework and exams. Anticodon - answerA specialized base triplet at one end of a tRNA molecule that recognizes a particular complementary codon on an mRNA molecule. Bioinformatics - answerComputational information systems and analytical methods applied to biological problems such as genomic analysis. Comparative Genomics - answerThe study of relationships between genomic sequences of multiple species. Complementary Bases - answerTwo bases that pair together. A is complementary to T and C is complementary to G. Deoxyribonucleic Acid - answerA chain of linked nucleotides (having deoxyribose as their sugars). Two such chains in a double helix formation are the fundamental substance of which genes are composed. Developmental noise - answerVariation in the outcome of development as a consequence of random events. Diploid - answerA cell having two chromosome sets. -or- An organism having 2 Chromosome sets in each of its cells. Eukaryote - answeran organism made up of cells that have a nucleus enclosed - 2 -: by a membrane, multiple chromosomes, and a mitotic cycle; eukaryotes include protists, animals, plants, and fungi but not archaea or bacteria Forward Genetics - answerForward genetic analysis begins with the isolation of mutants that show differences in phenotype for the process of interest. Mutant isolation is followed by defining gene pathways, cloning the gene, and creating more mutants in order to understand the biological pathway. In this way, mutants define the normal function of the gene. Gene - answerFundamental physical and functional unit of heredity, which carries information from one generation to the next. A segment of DNA composed of a transcribed region and a regulatory region which makes the transcription possible. Genetic Polymorphism - answerNaturally occurring genetic differences between individual members of a population. Genetics - answerThe study of genes and inheritance. Genome - answerThe complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes. Genomics - answerThe cloning and molecular characterization of entire genomes. Genotype - answerSpecific allele composition of a cell, , the particular alleles at specified loci present in an organism Haploid - answeran organism or cell having only one complete set of chromosomes Messenger RNA - answerRNA molecule transcribed from the DNA of a gene; protein is translated from this RNA molecule by the ribosomes. Model Organism - answerA species chosen for use in studies of genetics because it is well suited for the study of one or more genetic processes. They have common genetic mechanisms. Mutant - answerAn organism or cell carrying a mutation. Mutation - - 3 -: answerThe process that a gene produces a gene or chromosome set that differs from the wildtype. Northern Blot - answerTransfer of electrophoretically separated RNA molecules from a gel onto an absorbent sheet, which is then immersed in a labeled probe that will bind to the RNA of interest. Nucleotide Base - answerA part of a DNA nucleotide (which is composed of a Phosphate group, a Deoxyribose sugar and an Organic base). There are four different types of Nucleotide base: Adenine, Thymine, Guanine and Cytosine. Phenotype - answerThe observable trait or characteristic expressed by an allele. Probing - answerThe most extensively used method for detecting specific macromolecules: a mixture of macromolecules (DNA, RNA or protein) is exposed to a probe molecule that will only