Compare and Contrast Chromosomes, Genes, and DNA Flashcards
The hereditary material for most organisms is contained in:
DNA
___ are segments of DNA which can code for specific Proteins
Genes
Genes are located on larger structures called:
Chromosomes
Offspring inherit trains by inheriting:
Their parents DNA
Genetic information is contained in structures called:
Chromosomes
What do Chromosomes consist of?
DNA that winds around histone proteins
What does the winding process do for DNA?
Condenses the DNA and allows regulation of genes located on the particular chromosome
Bacteria have a ___ ___ Chromosome
Single Circular
Organisms that are Eukaryotic have ___ ___ Chromosomes
Many Linear
Humans have ___ Chromosomes
46
Dogs have ___ Chromosomes
78
What is the primary unit of Heredity?
Genes
Sequences of DNA located on Chromosomes:
Genes
Most ___ contain the information needed to synthesize proteins
Genes
A few genes sequence code for other molecules that help the cell:
Assemble proteins or regulate the making of proteins
Genes tend to be clustered in areas in between regions of ___ with unknown function
DNA
These vary in size from a few hundred DNA bases to more than a million bases:
Genes
Researchers estimate that humans have about ___ genes
25,000
Genes can have ___ or ___ functions
Structural, Regulatory
Structural Genes are converted into:
A short-lived RNA message (mRNA) that is decoded by the ribosome and assembled into proteins that build structures in living things
Regulatory Genes control:
The expression of protein-coding genes by turning on or off activity, either directly or through a protein intermediate
Not all cells will express the same Genes; therefore, they will make different ___
Proteins
What Genes “turn off” unneeded Genes?
Regulatory Genes
DNA is:
A macromolecule that contains genes that are coded instructions for a cell to produce proteins
The structure of DNA is:
A twisted ladder or double helix
The sides of the DNA ladder are made of:
Phosphate and Sugar Molecules
The Rungs of the DNA ladder are composed of:
Four Nucleotide Bases
The four Nucleotide Bases are represented by letters:
A (Adenine), T (Thymine), G (Guanine), and C (Cytosine)
Nucleotide Bases are arranged in ___ letter combinations
Three
What is a Codon?
A sequence of 3 Nucleotides that codes for a specific Amino Acid or stop signal during Protein Synthesis
How many Codons long can a Gene for a specific Protein be?
Thousands
Genes will end with a ___ ___ Codon
Stop Signal
___ are the Organelles that assemble Proteins from Amino Acids in the other specified by the Codons of the Gene
Ribosomes
Are the two strands of DNA complimentary?
Yes
What does complimentary mean?
The Nucleotide Bases of the two strands are paired correctly and specifically
The base A (Adenosine) always pair with ___ on the other strand
T (Thymine)
G (Guanine) always pairs with ___
C (Cytosine)
A-T and G-C are referred to as:
Complimentary base pairs
Complimentary Bases are linked by ___ ___ ___ between A and T and ___ ___ ___ between G and C
Two Hydrogen Bonds, Three Hydrogen Bonds
Are individual Hydrogen Bonds weak?
Yes
Why are the Hydrogen Bonds in DNA strong?
Because they occur in large numbers and maintain DNA’s integrity
These Bonds are easier to break than Covalent Bonds which allows:
The two strands to be separated for DNA replication and transcription
What happens before a Cell replicates?
Chromosomes containing DNA must be copied to make two identical copies called Chromatids
After Chromatids are separated, the two new cells will have:
Identical copies of DNA
Two strands of DNA “run” in:
Opposite directions, making the strands anti-parallel
Information is coded in DNA in the ___ to ___ direction
5’, 3’
What is the 5’ to 3’ direction strand called?
Sense Strand
The other strand going in the 3’ to 5’ direction is called:
The Anti-Sense Strand
The Anti-Sense Strand is used in:
DNA Replication and Transcription
Chromosomes are composed of:
DNA wrapped around a Histone Protein
Humans have ___ pairs of Chromosomes, for a total of ___ Chromosomes
23, 46
