Key Biology Terms: Enzymes, DNA, RNA, Transcription, Translation, Genomics, Evolution, Quizzes of Biology

Download Key Biology Terms: Enzymes, DNA, RNA, Transcription, Translation, Genomics, Evolution and more Quizzes Biology in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Holoenzyme DEFINITION 1 The term "holoenzyme" can also be applied to enzymes that contain multiple protein subunits, such as the DNA polymerases; here the holoenzyme is the complete complex containing all the subunits needed for activity. A conjugated enzyme, meaning that it possesses a biological living part and a non-biological, non-living part. TERM 2 DNA polymerase DEFINITION 2 A DNA polymerase is an enzyme that catalyzes the polymerization of deoxyribonucleotides into a DNA strand. enzymes that catalyse the synthesis of nucleic acids on preexisting nucleic acid templates, assembling rNA from ribonucleotides or dNA from deoxyribonucleotides. An enzyme that catalyzes the formation of new DNA and RNA from an existing strand of DNA or RNA.An [[enzyme promoting the joining together of [[nucleic acids with one another. TERM 3 Initiation Factors DEFINITION 3 Initiation factors are proteins that bind to the small subunit of the ribosome during the initiation of translation, a part of protein biosynthesis. Initiation factors are proteins that bind to the small subunit of the ribosome during the initiation of translation, a part of protein biosynthesis. TERM 4 Operons DEFINITION 4 In genetics, an operon is a functioning unit of genomic material containing a cluster of genes under the control of a single regulatory signal or promoter. TERM 5 Transcription DEFINITION 5 The synthesis of RNA on a DNA template TERM 6 Repressor DEFINITION 6 A repressor is a DNA-binding protein that regulates the expression of one or more genes by binding to the operator and blocking the attachment of RNA polymerase to the promoter, thus preventing transcription of the genes. A protein that supresses the transcription of a gene TERM 7 Inducer DEFINITION 7 In molecular biology, an inducer is a molecule that starts gene expression. A specific small molecule that inactivates a repressor in an operon. TERM 8 Promoter proximal element DEFINITION 8 Any regulatory sequence in eukaryotic DNA that is located within 200 bp of a promoter and binds a specific protein to modulate transcription of the associated gene. TERM 9 Restriction enzymes DEFINITION 9 A restriction enzyme (or restriction endonuclease) is an enzyme that cuts double-stranded or single stranded DNA at specific recognition nucleotide sequences known as restriction sites. TERM 10 Transformation DEFINITION 10 In molecular biology transformation is the genetic alteration of a cell resulting from the uptake, incorporation and expression of exogenous genetic material (DNA) that is taken up through the cell wall(s). TERM 21 Translation DEFINITION 21 Translation is the third stage of protein biosynthesis (part of the overall process of gene expression). The synthesis of a polypeptide using genetic information encoded in an mRNA molecule. There is a change of "language" from nucleotides to amino acids TERM 22 Activator DEFINITION 22 An activator is a DNA-binding protein that regulates one or more genes by increasing the rate of transcription. TERM 23 DNase DEFINITION 23 A deoxyribonuclease (DNase, for short) is any enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolytic cleavage of phosphodiester linkages in the DNA backbone. TERM 24 Transcription factors DEFINITION 24 In molecular biology and genetics, a transcription factor (sometimes called a sequence-specific DNA-binding factor) is a protein that binds to specific DNA sequences, thereby controlling the movement(or transcription) of genetic information from DNA to mRNA. TERM 25 Plasmids DEFINITION 25 A plasmid is a DNA molecule that is separate from, and can replicate independently of, the chromosomal DNA. TERM 26 Genomic library DEFINITION 26 A genomic library is a population of host bacteria, each of which carries a DNA molecule that was inserted into a cloning vector, such that the collection of cloned DNA molecules represents the entire genome of the source organism. TERM 27 Proteomics DEFINITION 27 Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures and functions. TERM 28 Evolutionary genomics DEFINITION 28 Evolutionary Genomics (EG) is a unique biotechnology company that is changing how relevant gene/target discovery and validation is performed during the post-genomics era. The companys proprietary Adapted Traits platform sifts through vast amounts of genomic data to identify only those genes that have a high likelihood of commercial value for downstream validation. TERM 29 Lateral gene transfer DEFINITION 29 Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), also Lateral gene transfer (LGT), is any process in which an organism incorporates genetic material from another organism without being the offspring of that organism.