3. DNA and the Production of Proteins Flashcards
Where do we we find DNA?
In the nucleus
Define DNA
A special molecule which provides the instructions for a living thing.
What does DNA stand for?
DeoxyriboNuleic Acid
What is a chromosome?
Thread-like structures containing many genes stored in the nucleus of cells.
(DNA is a very long because there are many instructions needed to make a living thing. To get all of these instructions to fit into a tiny cell the DNA is wound up very carefully into chromosomes).
Where do we get chromosomes from?
Chromosomes are inherited (passed down) from parents to children.
We get 23 chromosomes from our mother and 23 chromosomes from our father.
What are genes and what are they for?
Genes are sections (BANDS) of chromosomes made of chains of DNA.
Genes code for a particular protein (e.g. enzymes or hormones) or characteristic.
List five characteristics we could have passed down from our parents
These could include…
height, eye colour, skin colour, absence or presence of freckles, hair texture, ability to roll tongue, blood group, shoe size, if your ears are attached or lobed, ability to do a hitch hikers thumb or not…. and much much more.
How many chromosomes do humans have?
46
A gorilla’s body cells each contain 48 chromosomes. How many chromosomes did the gorilla inherit from its mother?
24
half from mum, half from dad
Describe the structure of DNA
DNA has a double helix shape, which is like a ladder twisted into a spiral. The double helix is made of with two strands held together by weak hydrogen bonds between the bases.
Each step of the ladder is a pair of bases,
How many bases are there and what are their names?
There are 4 bases.
Adenine
Thymine
Cytosine
Guanine
When discussing base pairs what does complementary mean?
The bases are COMPLEMENTARY to each other. This means that A is always paired with T and C is always paired with G
What pairs with Thymine?
Adenine
What pairs with adenine?
Thymine
What pairs with cytosine?
Guanine