Genetics and Molecular Biology Terms

hemoglobin

• A red protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood of vertebrates.

• A type of white blood cell that fights infections.

• A hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.

• A lipid that stores energy in the body.

gene

• A unit of heredity transferred from a parent to offspring that determines some characteristic of the offspring.

• A type of protein that helps in the digestion of food.

• A cellular structure that produces energy for the cell.

• A chemical compound that stores information in the form of DNA.

mRNA

• A type of RNA that conveys genetic information from DNA to the ribosome.

• A type of DNA that carries amino acids to the ribosome.

• A protein that helps in the synthesis of RNA.

• A type of enzyme that breaks down RNA.

silent mutation

• A mutation in DNA that does not significantly alter the phenotype of the organism in which they occur.

• A mutation that results in a change in the amino acid sequence of a protein.

• A mutation that occurs in non-coding regions of DNA only.

• A mutation that leads to a lethal phenotype in the organism.

protein

• Large biomolecules consisting of one or more long chains of amino acid residues, performing a vast array of functions within organisms.

• Small molecules that serve as building blocks for nucleic acids.

• Simple sugars that provide energy to cells.

• Lipids that store energy and provide insulation.

uracil

• A compound found in living tissue as a constituent base of RNA.

• A type of protein found in muscle tissue.

• A sugar molecule that is part of DNA.

• A lipid that forms cell membranes.

rRNA

• Ribosomal RNA, a molecular component of a ribosome, the cell's essential protein factory.

• Ribosomal DNA, a genetic material found in the nucleus.

• Ribosomal protein, a structural component of ribosomes.

• Ribosomal enzyme, a catalyst for protein synthesis.

deletion

• A type of mutation involving the loss of genetic material.

• A process of adding genetic material to DNA.

• A type of mutation that only affects RNA.

• A method of repairing damaged DNA.

codon

• A sequence of three nucleotides that together form a unit of genetic code in a DNA or RNA molecule.

• A type of protein that helps in DNA replication.

• A single nucleotide that codes for a specific amino acid.

• A structure that carries genetic information in the form of genes.

transcription

• The process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA.

• The process of translating RNA into protein.

• The process of replicating DNA for cell division.

• The process of repairing damaged DNA.