SparkNotes: Free Study Guides No Fear Shakespeare: The Bard made easy SparkCharts: Just the facts TestPrep: SAT, ACT, and more 101s: College texts condensed Subject Finder: Browse by subject SparkCollege: Get in! SparkLife: 100% study-free home_bottom home_top BN_link
 
◄ PREVIOUS
Introduction to the Genetic Code
NEXT ►
The Genetic Code
 

Genetic Code

 
 

Terms

 
Amino Acid  -  The building block of proteins.
 
Codon  -  A three-nucleotide sequence in an mRNA sequence. Used to specify an amino acid.
 
Degenerate  -  Term used to describe the genetic code. Means that more than one codon can specify for a single amino acid.
 
Extragenic supression  -  A type of mutation that occurs outside of the genetic code, but has an effect on the amino acid sequence that is translated from the genetic code.
 
Frameshift mutation  -  One class of genetic code mutation that results from the insertion or deletion of a nucleotide to an mRNA sequence. Results in a new reading frame.
 
Genetic Code  -  The series of codons that make up an organism's DNA.
 
Intragenic suppression  -  A type of mutation that occurs within the genetic code to suppress a different mutation.
 
Missense mutation  -  One class of genetic code mutation that results from the substitution of one base group for another in a codon. Results in the change of the amino acid for which the codon specifies.
 
Mutation  -  An error in the genetic code caused most often by a the incorrect substitution, insertion, or deletion of a nucleotide.
 
Nonsense mutation  -  One class of genetic code mutation that results from the substitution of one base group for another in a codon. Results in a stop codon, a codon that can no longer be recognized by tRNA molecules.
 
Reading frame  -  One of three possible ways of grouping an mRNA sequence by threes to yield an amino acid sequence.
 
Silent Mutation  -  A substitution base mutation that changes a codon, but because of degeneracy does not change the amino acid that codon specifies.
 
Stop codon  -  A codon that is not recognized by a tRNA molecule. One of three codons: UAA, UAG, or UGA. Signals the termination of DNA translation.
 
Suppressor mutation  -  A type of genetic code mutation that alters the result of a different mutation. Can be either extragenic or intragenic.
 
Synonyms  -  Codons that code for the same amino acid.
 
True reversion  -  One type of suppression mutation that leads to the restoration of the natural genetic code sequence.
 
 
Help | Feedback | Make a request | Report an error | Send to a friend

◄ PREVIOUS
Introduction to the Genetic Code
NEXT ►
The Genetic Code
 
 
 
 
 
 
Message Boards
Ask a question or start a discussion on the community boards.
  • SAT Biology Test Prep
  • Bioethics
  • Botany
  • Cell Biology
  • Dinosaurs
  • Evolution
  • Genetic Engineering
  • Global Warming
  • Marine Biology
  • Zoology
  •  
     
     
     
    Read on Your iPod
    Download the text version of this SparkNote to view on your iPod.
     
     
     
    Test Prep Books
    Take the next step in test prep.
  • SAT Subject Test: Biology
  •  
    Test Prep Centers
    Take a practice exam. Do better.
  • SAT Subject Test: Biology Test Center
  •  
    SparkCharts
    A textbook's worth of information on an easy-to-read chart.
  • Biology
  • General Anatomy
  • Medical Terminology
  • Microbiology
  • Muscular System
  • Nervous System
  • Reproductive System
  • Skeletal System
  •  
     
     
    Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | About | Sitemap
    ©2008 SparkNotes LLC, All Rights Reserved.