Quick Review Cards for Medical Laboratory Science

Nucleic Acid Terminologycontinued

Molecular Diagnostics

(MDx) Review 525

TERM EXPLANATION

Introns

Genome

Genetic code

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

Nucleoside

Nucleotide

Pentose

Ribose

Deoxyribose

Noncoding regions between exons.

All hereditary information for an individual.

Relationship between sequence of bases in DNA or its RNA transcript & sequence of amino acids in proteins.

Nucleic acid that converts genetic information from DNA into specific proteins. Some has regulatory

or structural function. Present in nucleus & in cytoplasm where it’s associated with ribosomes (free or

attached to endoplasmic reticulum). Source of genetic information in RNA viruses (retroviruses).

Pentose sugar with nitrogen base attached. Dephosphorylated nucleotide. Adenosine, guanosine,

cytidine, thymidine.

Building blocks of DNA & RNA. A pentose sugar with nitrogen base attached to 1’C & 1–3 phosphate groups

attached to 5’C. Nucleotide sequences always written in 5’ to 3’ direction, e.g., 5’ATCGAACAGTAC 3’

Sugar with 5 carbons (C). Cs are numbered 1’–5’ starting with C to right of oxygen & going clockwise.

Superscript (prime) differentiates Cs in sugar from Cs in bases, which are numbered 1–9.

5-C sugar found in RNA.

5-C sugar found in DNA. Similar to ribose, but with 1 less oxygen.

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