A | B |
amelogenin gene | genetic locus useful for determining gender |
amino acids | building blocks of proteins |
buccal cells | cells from the inner cheek lining |
chromosome | threadlike sructure in the cell nucleus along which genes are located |
complementary base pairing | pairing of A with T and G with C in DNA |
deoxyribonucleic acid | molecules that carry genetic information |
electrophoresis | separation of molecules through migration in a medium under electrical potential |
epithelial cells | outer layer of skin cells |
human genome | order of bases on all 23 pairs of human chromosomes |
hybridization | process of joining complimentary strands of DNA |
low copy number | fewer than eighteen DNA-bearing cells |
mitochondria | cell organelle that provides energy for cells contains maternal DNA |
multiplexing | technique to simultaneously detect more than one DNA marker in a single analysis |
nucleotide | building blocks of DNA molecule |
picogram | one trillionth of a gram |
polymer | large chemical substances composed of repeating units called monomers |
polymerase chain reaction | technique used for replicating DNA outside of a living cell |
primer | short DNA strand used to target a region of DNA for replication by PCR |
proteins | amino acid polymers that play basic roles in the structure and function of cells |
replication | synthesis of new DNA from exisiting DNA |
restriction enzyme | chemical that cuts DNA molecules open at specific locations |
restriction fragment length polymorphisms | different fragment lengths of base pairs resulting from cutting a DNA molecule with a restriction enzyme |
sequencing | procedure used to determine the base pairs in a piece of DNA |
short tandem repeat | region of DNA that has short segments of 3 to 7 repeating base pairs |
substrate control | unstained object adjacent to aan area with a deposite of biological material |
tandem repeat | chromosome region with multiple copies of a core DNA sequence |
Y-STRs | short tandem repeats found on the human Y chromosome |
DNA ligase | enzyme that joins pieces of DNA made by polymerases |
RNA primase | enzyme that ays down RNA primers during DNA replication |
SSB | proteins that help unwind DNA |
DNA plymerase III | enzyme that builds DNA by adding complimentary nucleotides |
DNA helicase | enzyme that opens and unwinds the DNA molecule |
replication fork | opened area of DNA helix where replication occurs |
leading strand | side of DNA where replication is faster because it is continuous |
lagging strand | side of DNA where replicaion is slower because it occurs in pieces |
Okazaki fragments | pieces od DNA joined together on lagging side |
Taq polymerase | enzyme derived from hot springs bacteria used in PCR reactions |
pyrimidine base | double ringed nitrogenous bases - adenine & guanine |
purine base | single ringed nitrogenus bases - cytosine, thymine, and uracil |