molecule carrying all our inherited information, which controls our body by coding for all our proteins
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Double helix
two strands wound in a spiral shape
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Genetic code
Sequence of base pairs in DNA, coding for a polypeptide structure
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Proteins (their importance in the body)
Enzymes, components of the cell, messengers...control the synthesis and biochemistry of pretty much every substance and process in the body
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Amino acids
building blocks of proteins. 20 different types (naturally occuring)
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Ribosomes
organelles either found free in the cytoplasm or on the surface of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Site of protein synthesis. Made of ribosomal RNA and synthesised in the nucleolus. Have a small and large subunit
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Triplet code
three bases (called a codon) code for one amino acid
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mRNA
stands for messenger RNA. Single stranded polynucleotide which corresponds to a particular gene and lines up on ribosome when forming a polypeptide. Being single stranded allows it to leave nucleus, unlike DNA
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Non-overlapping code
Codons follow each other, each base is only part of one codon. So when you read a strand of RNA with the sequence AAUCGGACA, it has the codons AAU CGG and ACA
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Degenerate
Each amino acid can be coded for by more than one codon - this is useful as it reduces the effect of mutations (a change from UUU to UUC would still code for phenylalanine, and the protein would be unchanged)
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RNA polymerase
Enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of hydrogen bonds between the 2 DNA strands during transcription. Also forms bonds between the RNA nucleotides (polymerising them)
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Template strand
the 5' DNA strand, on which the mRNA strand forms - also called the antisense strand
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Sense strand
You would think this would be the same as the template strand, but no...it's another name for the 3' strand, because this has a sequence most similar to that of the mRNA!
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tRNA
clover-leaf shaped polynucleotide. Only has 3 bases, an anticodon. These bind to complementary mRNA. Have a binding site on their other end for a specific amino acid (determined by their anticodon)
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Start and stop codons
show the ribosome which end of the mRNA strand to start reading from, and when to stop. The start codon codes for methionine, so all polypeptide chains start with this amino acid (though it may be removed later)
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Peptide bond
bond formed between the amino acids as they are held close together when tRNA molecules form complimentary base pairs with the mRNA
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
two strands wound in a spiral shape
Back
Double helix
Card 3
Front
Sequence of base pairs in DNA, coding for a polypeptide structure
Back
Card 4
Front
Enzymes, components of the cell, messengers...control the synthesis and biochemistry of pretty much every substance and process in the body
Back
Card 5
Front
building blocks of proteins. 20 different types (naturally occuring)
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