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Structure of Chromosomes

Author: Amanda Soderlind

Source: Video and Images Created by Amanda Soderlind

Video Transcript
Terms to Know
Adenine (A)

A nucleotide building block of DNA and RNA, adenine is classified as a purine and complements thymine (T) in DNA and uracil (U) in RNA.

Autosomes

All of the chromosomes in the body except for sex chromosomes.

Base Pair

The way that nucleotides interact with one another. In DNA, A bonds with T, and C bonds with G. In RNA, C bonds with G, and A bonds with U (uracil). The sequence of base pairs creates the genetic code that is transcribed and translated into proteins.

Chromosome

A condensed DNA structure.

Cytosine (C)

A nucleotide building block of DNA and RNA, cytosine is classified as pyrimidine and complements guanine (G) in DNA and RNA.

Double Helix

The shape of the DNA molecule; often is referred to as the “twisted ladder” and is the title to the book about Watson & Crick's discovery of DNA's structure.

Gene

A segment of DNA that codes for a specific protein, genes are a sequence of nucleotides.

Guanine (G)

A nucleotide building block of DNA and RNA, guanine is classified as a purine and complements cytosine (C) in DNA and RNA.

Homologous Chromosomes

Chromosomes paired together that are the same length and shape and contain the same sets of genes. Typically, one of the homologous pair is contributed by each parent.

Mutation

A change in the nucleotide sequence.

Nucleotide

Organic molecules that consist of a five-carbon sugar (ribose in the case of RNA, and deoxyribose in the case of DNA), a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base; nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids (DNA & RNA).

Nucleotide Sequence

The arrangement of nucleotides (the order of A's, C's, G's, and T's) that form genes in strands of DNA.

Sex Chromosomes

Chromosomes associated with sex and gender.

Thymine (T)

A nucleotide building block of DNA, thymine is classified as pyrimidine and complements adenine (A) in DNA; thymine is not found in RNA.