Download These are terms that I thought might be helpful to put in one place

These are terms that I thought might be helpful to put in one place. Please let me know if
there are more you’d like to see added. (as of 8/29/01, jaf)
5’, 3’
The two ends of the DNA (or RNA), which are distinguishable by their
charge. Sequences are listed 5’ to 3’, and most biological activity also
occurs from 5’ to 3’.
Amino acid
One of 20 molecules attached to a (strong) backbone in a protein.
Base pair
Two complementary nucleotides bound to each other, on two different
DNA strands (the human genome has about 3 billion base pairs)
Chromosomes Bundles of DNA molecules that have the genes essential to an organism.
Codon
A triplet of nucleotides. Special ones are the “start codon” (AUG) which
usually starts transcription, and the “stop codons” (UAA, UGA, UAG)
which normal end transcription.
Cytoplasm
Stuff in the cell but not in the nucleus.
Data
information that represents some aspect of physical reality (usually
singular in CS, plural in biology)
Duplication
Making unexpected extra copies of something, usually either a
chromosome, part of a chromosome, or a gene or part of a gene.
Endogenous
Viruses that copy their DNA to RNA, which have inserted their DNA
retroviruses
into the host genome.
Enzyme
A molecule, usually (always?) a protein, that speeds up a chemical
reaction under “biological” conditions. Usually ends in “ase”
(polymerase, transcriptase, relaxase, synthetase, telomerase, etc.)
Epigenetic
Changes in gene expression that are inherited but do not change the
factors
genetic material—such as imprinting.
Eukaryote
Cells with a well-defined nucleus. The genetic material is (mostly) in the
nucleus.
Exon
An “Expressed regiON” of a gene—which may get translated into a
protein eventually
Gene
A stretch of DNA that potentially codes for one protein. (vague term, ill
defined)
Genetic code The table which translates from codons to amino acids
Genic DNA
All the DNA in all the genes of an organism’s genome
Genome
All of the DNA in an organisms chromosomes.
Intron
An “IN between regiON” of a gene—which does not get translated into
a protein
Mobile
Stretches of DNA in the host genome that move from one location to
elements
another.
mRNA
Messenger RNA—the RNA from which proteins are translated
Non-genic
The genome minus the genic DNA.
DNA
Nucleotide
Molecule attached to a sugar on a DNA or RNA molecule, and to a
complementary nucleotide (A to T or U, C to G) on a paired molecule
via a weak bond. In DNA: Adenin, Cytosine, Thymine (Uracil in RNA),
Guanine.
Phosphate
backbone
Phylogenetic
tree
Phylogeny
Polymer
Pre-mRNA
Primary
Structure
Prokaryote
Protein
Quaternary
Structure
Regulation
Residue
Ribosome
Secondary
structure
Sequence
Side chain
Splicing
Structure
Sugar
Tertiary
Structure
Transcription
Translation
Transposable
elements
The strong outer part of a DNA or RNA molecule, has a phosphate atom
A phylogeny represented as a tree
The evolutionary relationships between a set of things (organisms,
species, genes, etc.)
big, long molecule (DNA, RNA, protein).
Precursor to mRNA, which is transcribed directly from DNA
The sequence of molecules in a polymer.
Cells without well-defined nucleus. The genetic material is everywhere
(like bacteria)
A polymer built of amino acids, like perls on a rope.
The 3D structure of a complex of multiple polymers
The process of turning on/off or varying the amount of
expression/translation of genes. Performed by interactions of proteins
with regions of the DNA.
Same as amino acid. Sometimes mistakenly used for “nucleotide”.
An RNA-protein complex that translates mRNA into proteins, one
amino acid at a time
The 2D structure of a polymer that folds on itself, like RNA.
A string of data, usually amino acids or nucleotides.
The sequence of amino acids in a protein (hang off the side of the
backbone)
Gluing exons together. “Alternate splicing” is the ability to glue exons
from the same gene in different orders in order to get different proteins.
The configuration of a molecule in space (2D or 3D).
A molecule with 5 carbons in a ring. Sticks to the phosphate backbone
and the nucleotide.
The 3D structure of a polymer (usually a protein, but possibly DNA or
RNA), as it wads up.
Making a copy of a DNA molecule
Converting DNA or RNA into a protein.
Same as mobile elements.