Cell Division And Inheritance Flashcards
How are proteins synthesised from DNA?
Each base forms a triplet code
> each triplet code forms an amino acid
> that can be combined to form different proteins
What is a protein?
A specific combination of amino acids
What is a gene?
A short section of DNA that provides the instructions for making a specific protein
What is the function of triplet codes?
> triplet codes provide the instructions for creating different amino acids
> the order of the triplet codes determines what proteins are made as decides the order of the amino acids
What is a dominant allele?
> the version of the gene that will always determine the characteristic when present
What is a recessive allele?
> the version of the gene that will only determine the characteristic if the dominant allele is not present.
Define sexual reproduction
The fusion of the male and female gametes that produces genetic variation.
Why can a parent only pass on one of their alleles for a particular gene?
Because gametes only have 23 chromosomes
What 3 conclusions did Gregor Mendel arrive at?
Characteristics are determined by “herediatry units”
> hereditary units are passed down by each parent, one unit per parent
> hereditary units can be dominant or recessive
Why was Mendel ignored at the time?
> he was not a scientist
> his work was not widely published
> genes has not yet been discovered
