Vocab Lesson 6 DNA to Trait

Front

What is DNA?

Back

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is a molecule that carries the instructions for how living things grow, develop, and function. It’s like a recipe book for building a living thing.

Front

What are proteins?

Back

Proteins are large, important molecules in our bodies that do many jobs, like building muscles and fighting off germs.

Front

What is a double helix?

Back

A double helix is the shape of DNA—it looks like a twisted ladder or a spiral staircase.

Front

What are nitrogenous bases?

Back

Nitrogenous bases are parts of DNA that pair up in the middle of the double helix. The four kinds are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).

Front

What is a nucleotide?

Back

A nucleotide is the building block of DNA. Each one has a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and a phosphate.

Front

What is phosphate in DNA?

Back

Phosphate is one part of a nucleotide. It helps form the sides of the DNA ladder.

Front

What is the sugar in DNA?

Back

In DNA, the sugar is called deoxyribose. It also helps make up the sides of the DNA ladder, along with the phosphate.

Front

What are amino acids?

Back

Amino acids are small molecules that link together to make proteins, kind of like beads on a necklace.

Front

What are macromolecules?

Back

Macromolecules are very large molecules that living things need. DNA and proteins are both macromolecules.

Front

What is mRNA?

Back

mRNA (Messenger RNA) is a copy of a piece of DNA that carries instructions from the nucleus to the part of the cell that makes proteins.