Biology 1: You and Your Genes Flashcards
(93 cards)
DNA
Large (polymer) molecule found in the nucleus of all body cells – it’s sequence determines genetic characteristics, such as eyecolour, and gives each one of us are unique genetic code
Chromosomes
Threadlike structures in the cell nucleus that carry genetic information – each chromosome consists of DNA wound around a core of protein
What are DNA strands made of
Bases as well as phosphate groups and sugar molecules
Where are chromosomes found
In the nucleus
How many genes do we have in our chromosomes
Between 20,000 and 25,000 genes in our chromosomes
Why does the order of the bases in DNA strand matter
It determines the order of amino acid’s in a protein
Which Groups do proteins falling into
- functional proteins
* structural proteins
Structural protein
A protein, such as collagen, whose function is to build tissues
Functional protein
A protein such as an enzyme that speeds up a chemical reaction
What does the human Genome project do
Has identified the location of all the jeans on human chromosomes. We call the complete gene set of an organism it’s genome
What does the Human Genome project help us to understand
How do you control or characteristics and development, and can lead to certain diseases
What is the Human Genome project ethical implications
some drug companies want to patent or own jeans. They could then charge of a scientist money to this get the genes, which would restrict research
What factors are controlled by our genes
- Characteristics, for example dimples
- environment for example the presence of scars and dyes hair
- or a combination of these are bodyweight
Where do our genes come from
We inherit dreams from my parents, so we’re similar but not identical to each parent
Variation
Differences between individuals belonging to the same species
What does differences in genes produce
Variation in offspring
Continuous variation
Variation in organisms of features that take any value, for example height
Characteristics controlled by several genes working together
These characteristics will show continuous variation across the population sample the continuous range of colours and different heights
What are the names of a particular characteristic
Genotype
Phenotype
Genotype
And individuals genetic make up, such as whether they are homozygous or heterozygous for a particular gene
Phenotype
The physical expression of the gene; different genotypes can give the same phenotype
What colour genotype refer to
The whole of an individual’s jeans or (more often) the jeans for a particular characteristic,such as if they have dimples the genotype is usually written two letters for example DD
What does the phenotype depend on
The persons genes, but may also be affected by how these interact with the environment
What about identical twins genotypes
Identical twins have identical Genotypes because they develop after fertilised egg splits into two