Lexicon

5'-3' These numbers are the chemistry names for the back and front of the bases respectively
Adenine This is one of the four DNA bases (and one of the four RNA bases).
Amino Acids These are the components of protein.
Anticodons These are the three bases that are complemenetary to a codon.
Bases These are the four molecules that constitute DNA. (outside of the helical backbones)
Central Dogma This is the rule that says DNA transcribes mRNA and mRNA translates into protein.
Cloning DNA Is making one or more exact copies of a piece of DNA.
Codon Each amino acid is associated with a unique group of three DNA bases. Those three bases are codons.
Complementary Strand This is the DNA strand that is opposite the strand begin examined.
Constitutive Transcription This means that transcription is always happening at this gene.
CRISPR Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.
Cytosine One of the four bases.
DNA Its official name is Deoxyribonucleic Acid. Much easier to say DNA.
Double Helix The two strands that comprise DNA form helical shapes that are parallel to each other.
Downstream In the 5' to 3' direction on the DNA strand.
Enzymes These are proteins that act to catalyze biochemical reactions in cells.
Exons These are the parts of mRNA that translate into proteins in Mammals and other Eukaryotes.
Gene Gun A device the shoots genetic material into a cell. Commonly used for plants.
Guanine One of the bases.
Helicase This is the molecule that splits the DNA strands apart so they can replicate.
Hydrogen Bonds These are the chemical bonds that connect the two strands together.
Introns These are the parts of mRNA that are not translated into protein in Eukaryotes.
Lagging Strand This is the strand that during DNA replication is being copied in okazaki fragments.
Leading Strand This is the strand that replicates in one continuous process.
Ligase This enzyme connects other chemicals together.
Methyl A molecule with one carbon and four hydrogen atoms.
Methylation The replacement of one of the hydrogen atoms with another molecule.
mRNA This is messenger RNA. It is the result of transcription from DNA and is used to make protein.
Okazaki Fragments These are little pieces of DNA that have just been made but are not yet connected together.
Plasmid A circular piece of DNA that moves genetic material between cells. Used in genetic engineering.
Polymerase This is the enzyme that makes a strand of DNA or RNA.
Primase This brings the initial primers to the site where a polymerase begins copying a DNA strand.
Protein The end product of the central dogma. It is mainly comprised of amino acids.
rDNA Recombinant DNA.
Regulated Transcription This is transcription that needs to be externally initiated.
Ribosome This is a large complex molecule (in two parts) that translates the code on mRNA to proteins.
RNA Ribonucleic Acid.
Sense Strand This strand is the DNA strand that contains the exact codons as the mRNA except it uses T instad of U.
Stacking This is related to the vertical positioning of the four bases on the helix.
Strand What a string of bases of DNA or RNA are called.
Template Strand This is the strand that has the complementary bases to the one being produced.
Thymine One of the bases in DNA but not in RNA
Topoisomerase This enzyme prevents a replicating DNA from kinking up.
tRNA Transfer RNA hold onto the amino acids until the ribosome lonks them into protein.
Upstream In the 3' to 5' direction on the DNA.
Uracil This is a base in RNA but not in DNA (DNA uses Thymine instead)
Vector This is a virus capsule used to deliver genetic material into a cell.