Natural Selection and Adaptations

Front

Chromosome Noun

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[kroh-muh-sohm]

Back

Chromosome

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A structure in a cell made of proteins and DNA that contains the organism's genetic material.

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Example: A chromosome inside a cell contains DNA, which carries genetic information.

Front

Gene Noun

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[jeen]

Back

Gene

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A segment of DNA on a chromosome that provides instructions for making proteins and expressing inherited traits.

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Example: A gene is shown as a segment of DNA on a chromosome inside a cell.

Front

DNA Noun

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[dee-en-ey]

Back

DNA

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Deoxyribonucleic acid, an organism's genetic material shaped like a double helix, carrying instructions for cellular activities.

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Example: This image shows the DNA double helix with labeled parts, explaining its structure and components.

Front

Nucleotide Noun

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[noo-klee-oh-tahyd]

Back

Nucleotide

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The basic building block of DNA, a molecule made of a nitrogen base, a sugar, and a phosphate group.

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Example: A nucleotide is shown with its three parts: phosphate, sugar, and nitrogen base.

Front

Replication Noun

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[rep-li-key-shuhn]

Back

Replication

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The biological process of copying a DNA molecule to produce two identical DNA molecules before a cell divides.

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Example: The image shows DNA replication with labeled leading and lagging strands, explaining how DNA is copied.

Front

RNA Noun

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[ahr-en-ey]

Back

RNA

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Ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid that carries the genetic code for making proteins from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.

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Example: The image shows RNA being transcribed in the nucleus and moving to the cytoplasm, explaining its role in protein synthesis.

Front

Transcription Noun

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[tran-skrip-shuhn]

Back

Transcription

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The process of creating a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule from a DNA template within the cell's nucleus.

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Example: The image shows how mRNA is created from DNA in the nucleus, illustrating transcription.

Front

Translation Noun

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[trans-ley-shuhn]

Back

Translation

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The process of synthesizing a protein from instructions carried by an RNA molecule, occurring in the cell's ribosomes.

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Example: Arrows show how amino acids form peptides and then proteins, illustrating protein synthesis.

Front

Codon Noun

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[koh-don]

Back

Codon

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A sequence of three nitrogen bases on a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule that codes for a specific amino acid.

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Example: A sequence of mRNA codons is shown, each coding for a specific amino acid, illustrating how genetic information is translated into proteins.

Front

Mutation Noun

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[myoo-tey-shuhn]

Back

Mutation

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A permanent alteration in the nucleotide sequence of the DNA in a gene or a chromosome of an organism.

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Example: The image shows how mutations can occur in the DNA within a chromosome inside a cell.