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Unit 4 Essentials Vocabulary List - DNA
1. Biology – the study of life
2. Organism – a living thing
3. DNA – Deoxyribonucleic Acid; carries the genetic code
4. Nucleotide – monomer of DNA or RNA composed of phosphoric acid, sugar (deoxyribose for DNA and ribose
for RNA) and a nitrogen base (A,T,C,G for DNA and A,U,C,G for RNA).
5. Nitrogenous Bases – the parts of DNA and RNA that pair (A,T,C,G for DNA and A,U,C,G for RNA).
6. DNA Replication – the process of making another copy of the genetic code by a semi-conservative process.
Occurs within the nucleus
7. RNA – Ribonucleic Acid
8. mRNA – messenger RNA (Messenger Ribonucleic Acid); single stranded molecule that carries the genetic
message from DNA within the nucleus to ribosomesoutside the nucleus
9. tRNA – transfer RNA (transfer Ribonucleic Acid); molecule the carries amino acids to ribosomes
10. rRNA – ribosomal RNA (Ribosomal Ribonucleic Acid); RNA that makes up ribosomes
11. Transcription – making mRNA from DNA; occurs within the nucleus
12. Translation/Protein Synthesis – reading the mRNA codons to make proteins; occurs on the ribosomes
13. Amino Acids – the monomers of proteins
14. Proteins – molecules that make up parts of cells and sometimes act as enzymes
15. Ribosomes – small organelles within cells where translation/protein synthesis takes place
16. Codon – a group of three nucleotide bases in mRNA that code for a specific amino acid
17. Anitcodon – a group of three nucleotide bases on a tRNA molecule complimentary to the three nucleotide bases
on a mRNA codon. Each anticodon carries a specific amino acid.