CB3 DNA & Protein production

• Nucleus: location of the genetic information in a cell
• Chromosome: thread-like structures, made of DNA, in the nucleus
• DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid, the chemical that chromosomes are made of
• Double-stranded helix: structure of a molecule of DNA
• Proteins: the type of substance that DNA carries the instructions to make
• Gene: a section of DNA which codes for one type of protein
• Bases in DNA: A – Adenine, T - Thymine, C - Cytosine, G - Guanine
• Genetic code: the sequence of the four bases
• Complementary base pairing: A always pairs with T & G always pairs with C
• Sequence of the amino acids: what makes the shape (and therefore function) of a protein
• Sequence of bases: what determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein
• Ribosome: site of protein synthesis
• mRNA: transports a complimentary copy of the genetic code from the nucleus to the ribosome in the cytoplasm of a cell
• Triplets of bases: how the genetic code is written