Glossary

• Gene = sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA
• Locus = actual location of the gene on a region of a chromosome
• Degenerate code = multiple codons can code for the same amino acid during protein synthesis
• Non-overlapping = each base in a sequence is read once and is only part of one triplet
• Universal code = another term for genetic code
• Exons = region of the genome that ends up within an mRNA molecule
• Introns = segment of DNA/RNA molecule that does not code for proteins and interrupts the sequence
• Histone proteins = protein that provides structural support for a chromosome
• Chromosomes = thread-like structure made up of DNA
• Chromatid = one half of a duplicated chromosome
• Homologous chromosomes = each have the same genes in the same order but with variation
• Diploid = cell containing two copies of each chromosome
• Meiosis = type of cell division producing gametes with a lower number of chromosomes
• Allele = variant of the sequence of nucleotides at a particular location on a DNA molecule
• Genome = all the genetic information of an organism
• Proteome = complete set of proteins expressed by an organism
• mRNA = single stranded molecule of RNA that corresponds to the genetic sequence of a gene
• tRNA = molecule that serves as a link between the mRNA and the growing chain of amino acids
• Codon = trinucleotide sequence of DNA or RNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid
• Anticodon = sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a tRNA molecule
• Transcription = process of making an RNA copy of a gene's DNA sequence
• Translation = process by which a cell makes proteins using the genetic information carried in mRNA
• Template strand = strand used during transcription to produce RNA
• Splicing = some sections of the RNA transcript are removed and two remaining section are stuck together
• Peptide bond = chemical bond formed between two amino acids