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Molecular Biology
Molecular biology 302
19
Biology
Undergraduate 3
10/23/2015

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Term
Euchromatin
Definition

Uncondensed regions of chromatin, during interphase. 

They contain most of the active genes. 

They stain very lightly. 

Term
Heterochromatin
Definition

Condensed regions of the chromosomes. 

They contain very few genes. 

They stain heavily. 

Term
Facultative Heterochromatin
Definition

Some regions of the chromosome that are euchromatin in some cells but heterochromatin in other cells. 

 

Example: The X chromosomes in female mammals (Barr body). 

Term
Nucleosome
Definition

The fisrt level of DNA packaging. 

A core of 8 histone proteins with about 1.7 turns of DNA wrapped around it. 

Term
Linker DNA
Definition

DNA between nucleosomes with variable lengths. 

Can be digested by DNase 1. 

Term
The 30 nm Chromatin Fiber
Definition

The fifth histone protein, H1, that binds to the DNA where it enters and exits the nucleosome. 

This is the form most euchromatins take in the interphase because it can easily revert to the beads-on-a-string structure when necessary for transcription. 

Term
Chromatin-Remodeling Complexes
Definition
Multi-subunit enzymes, that use ATP to rearrange the nucleosomes, make the DNA more or less accessible to other proteins.
Term
DNA Methyltransferases
Definition

A protein that methylates the DNA. 

Example: cytosine to 5-methyl cytosine. 

Bacteria have 6-methyl adenine as well, and the main function is to protect against invading DNA. 

Term
Uniparental Disomy
Definition

A case when both copies of a chromosomes come from the same parent. 

Examples: Prader-Willi syndrome, and Angelman syndrome. 

Term
DNA Ligase
Definition
Joins the Okazaki Fragments.
Term
Exonuclease
Definition
The second enzamatic activity of the DNA polymerase, which removes the RNA primer from the previous Okazaki Fragment as it moves down the template strand.
Term
Topoisomerase
Definition

Cuts one strand and allows the other to relax, then re-ligates the cut strand. 

Another form cuts both strands to allow one DNA double helix to pass through another, then re-ligates both cut strands. 

Term
Single Strand Binding Protein (SSB)
Definition
Binds to single stranded DNA and prevents it from base pairing.
Term
Primase
Definition
An enzyme that synthesizes RNA primers.
Term
DNA Polymerase
Definition
The enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of the second strand of DNA molecule.
Term
Mutation
Definition

Any permenant change in the DNA molecule nucleotide sequence. 

 

Mutations in the genes can alter or destroy the function of the gene's product. 

Term
Germ Line Mutation
Definition

Mutations that occur in the cells that become sperm or eggs. 

These mutations are heritable. 

Term
Somatic Mutations
Definition

Mutations that occur in the body cells. 

It can only affect the individual, not his/her descendants. 

Example: cancer. 

Term
Pre-adaptive Mutation, or Exaptation
Definition
Having a mutation which has no, or a slightly bad effect on an organosm. Then a change in the environment makes that mutation valuable.
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