4.6.1.4 DNA and the Genome

Question 1

What is genetic material in the nucleus of a cell composed of?

Answer 1

genetic material in the nucleus of a cell is composed of a chemical called DNA

Question 2

What is the structure of DNA?

Answer 2

• DNA is a polymer made up of 2 strands forming a double helix
• the DNA is contained in structures called chromosomes
• between the 2 strands are the 4 nitrogenous bases lined up in single rows - these come together to form a series of complementary pairs

Question 3

Gene:

Answer 3

• a small section of DNA on a chromosome
• a triplet of bases codes for a specific amino acid
• each gene codes for a particular sequence of amino acids, together a chain of amino acids can join to make a protein

Question 4

Genome:

Answer 4

the entire genetic material of an organism

Question 5

How much of the human genome has been studied and how may this be important in the future?

Answer 5

the whole human genome has now been studied and this will have great importance for medicine in the future

Question 6

Importance of understanding the human genome:

Answer 6

• improved understanding through search for genes linked to different types of disease
• understanding and treatment of inherited disorders
• has helped in tracing human migration patterns from the past