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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.