acid hydrolysis

hydrolysis that is carried out in an acidic solution

anti-codons

inverse of a codon on mRNA, these are found on tRNA and bind to codons

base pairs

are pairs of bases.  Cytosine bonds to guanine and adenine bonds to uracil.   C ≡≡≡ G, 3 hydrogen bonds.  A === U, 2 hydrogen bonds.

bases

one out of four ringed molecules which code for amino acids in RNA and DNA.  U, G, A, C = uracil, guanine, adenine, cytosine

codons

combinations of 3 bases e.g. ACG

DNA

is a permanent record of how to make proteins, stored in the nucleus.  DNA codes for RNA.  RNA codes for proteins.

gene

a segment of DNA responsible for one particular protein

genome

the full set of genes of an organism.  E. Coli genome contains 4.7 million base pairs, accounting for over 4000 genes and therefore enabling the bacterium to produce over 4000 proteins.

mRNA

tells the cell which amino acids to use, and in which order

phosphate

a derivative of phosphoric acid which links ribose molecules in RNA.  Ribose bonds to bases and phosphates link riboses

ribose

sugar molecule which forms the backbone of RNA

ribosome

a small particle which catalyses protein production.  It collides with mRNA then travels along it, initiating the reactions

RNA

carries the primary structure of a protein

rRNA

a type of RNA found in ribosomes bound to protein molecules

triplet code

three bases code for an amino acid or signal ‘stop’

tRNA

selects and separates relevant amino acids