Genetics

• Alleles are different versions of the same gene
• Amino acids are small molecules which make up proteins
• Anticodon is a triplet sequence of bases on tRNA molecules that are complimentary to a specific codon in mRNA
• Asexual reproduction includes a single parent and create genetically identical offspring
• A Codon is a sequence of three bases in a gene that codes for a particular amino acid
• A blood group is a classification of someone’s blood type (A , B , O) based on surface antigens on red blood cells and the presence of certain antibodies in the plasma
• Chromosomes are long, coiled molecules of DNA that carry genetic information in the form of genes
• Coding DNA is a sequence of DNA that codes for the production of a protein
• Condominance is when both alleles for a gene in a heterozygous organism equally contribute the the phenotype
• Complementary base pairs are held by weak hydrogen bonds and include A-T and C-G
• Detergent is a chemical used to disrupt cell membranes in the extraction of DNA
• A diploid cell is a cell that contains two copies of each chromosome
• DNA is a double stranded polymer in the structure of a double helix that carries a genetic code
• Dominant alleles are always expressed and represented by a capital letter
• Environment variation is a difference in phenotypes caused during the lifespan of an organism due to environmental factors, such as diet
• Fertilisation is the fusion of the male and female gametes nucleus
• Gametes are sex cells with half the number of chromosome, sperm cell and egg cell
• Genetic variation is a difference in the genotypes of an organism due to the presence of different alleles, caused by mutations and sexual reproduction
• A genome is the complete genetic material of an organism
• A genotype is an organisms genetic composition
• A haploid cell is a cell that contains a single copy of each chromosome
• Heterozygous is when someone has two different alleles of a gene
• Homozygous is when someone has two identical alleles of the gene
• The human genome project is an international project that successfully mapped the entire human genome
• Meiosis is a form of cell division that produces four genetically different daughter cells (gametes) with a haploid number of chromosomes
• Monohybrid inheritance is the inheritance of a single gene
• mRNA is a polymer of nucleotides that carries genetic information from the nucleus to the ribosomes during protein synthesis, it is a single helix and uses U-A
• A mutation Is a random change in the base sequence of DNA which may result in genetic variation
• Non coding DNA dose not code for a protein but instead controls gene expression by influencing the binding of RNA polymerase DNA
• Nucleotides are the monomers of DNA consisting of a common sugar, phosphate and a backbone
• A phenotype is an organisms observable characteristics due to the interactions of genotype and the environment
• A protein is a large molecule that is synthesised from amino acids
• Photosynthesis is the formation of a protein from a gene
• Recessive alleles are only expressed in the absence of a dominant allele and are represented by a lowercase letter
• Ribosomes are sub-cellular structures that are at the site of protein synthesis
• RNA polymerase is an enzyme involved in the transcription that binds to a region of the non-coding DNA, unzips the DNA strands and joins free RNA nucleotides to complementary bases on the coding DNA strand
• Sex chromosomes are XY in males and XX in females
• Sex linked characteristics are coded by an allele found on a sex chromosome
• Sex linked genetic disorders are caused by faulty alleles on a sex chromosome
• Sexual reproduction includes two parent gametes fusing and creates genetically different offspring