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Science 10 words

November 25, 2009 By Mark W.

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Definitions Notes & Examples Words Only
  1. diploid
    (genetics) an organism or cell having the normal amount of DNA per cell; i.e., two sets of chromosomes or twice the haploid number
    The term diploid describes a state in which a cell has two sets of homologous chromosomes, or two chromosomes that are the same.
  2. nuclear RNA
    ribonucleic acid found in the nucleolus of the cell
    Ribonucleic Acids
    In addition to mRNA, DNA codes for other forms of RNA, including ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). rRNAs and tRNAs participate in protein assembly whereas snRNAs aid in a process called splicing -the process of editing of mRNA before it can be used as a template for protein synthesis.
  3. phenotypic
    of or relating to or constituting a phenotype
    These expressed, or phenotypic, traits are attributable to genotypic variation in a person's DNA sequence.
  4. allele
    (genetics) either of a pair (or series) of alternative forms of a gene that can occupy the same locus on a particular chromosome and that control the same character
    Methylation also plays an important role in genomic imprinting, which occurs when both maternal and paternal alleles are present but only one allele is expressed while the other remains inactive.
  5. mRNA
    the template for protein synthesis; the form of RNA that carries information from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosome sites of protein synthesis in the cell
    Ribonucleic Acids
    In addition to mRNA, DNA codes for other forms of RNA, including ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). rRNAs and tRNAs participate in protein assembly whereas snRNAs aid in a process called splicing -the process of editing of mRNA before it can be used as a template for protein synthesis.
  6. codon
    a specific sequence of three adjacent nucleotides on a strand of DNA or RNA that specifies the genetic code information for synthesizing a particular amino acid
    Here the mRNA is translated into protein by decoding the mRNA sequence in blocks of three RNA bases, called codons, where each codon specifies a particular amino acid.
  7. polymerase
    an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of new DNA and RNA from an existing strand of DNA or RNA
    Transcription

    Transcription, the synthesis of an RNA copy from a sequence of DNA, is carried out by an enzyme called RNA polymerase.
  8. gene expression
    conversion of the information encoded in a gene first into messenger RNA and then to a protein
    Genes code for proteins that attach to the genome at the appropriate positions and switch on a series of reactions called gene expression.
  9. gene
    (genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons; it is considered a unit of heredity
    The biological information contained in a genome is encoded in its deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and is divided into discrete units called genes.
  10. nucleotide
    a phosphoric ester of a nucleoside; the basic structural unit of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA)
    In a DNA chain, every base is attached to a sugar molecule (deoxyribose) and a phosphate molecule, resulting in a nucleic acid or nucleotide.