DNA 1 - genes and the genome

Question 1

What does DNA stand for and what is it?

Answer 1

• Deoxyribonucleic acid
• Is the chemical that all of our genetic material is made up of. DNA is a polymer that consists of 2 strands stuck together to form a double helix

Question 2

What are chromosomes and how do they relate to DNA?

Answer 2

• DNA in each cell is sectioned off into 46 small and tightly coiled parts, known as chromsomes
• There are only 23 different types of chromosomes as each cell has 2 copies of each type (maternal and paternal)
• Each cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes

Question 3

What is the 23rd chromosome?

Answer 3

• Sex chromosome
• XX: female
• XY: male

Question 4

What is a gene?

Answer 4

• A small section of DNA that codes for a protein
• A small segment of a chromosome

Question 5

How does DNA determine what type of cell it is?

Answer 5

• A small section of DNA is known as a gene
• The gene codes for a particular sequence of amino acids which join and fold up to make a protein
• The type of protein that a cell produces determines what type of cell it is (RBC’s produce haemoglobin)

Question 6

What is a genome?

Answer 6

• An entire set of genetic material of an organism

Question 7

How does the human genome help with disease prevention and treatment?

Answer 7

• Scientists know the entire human genome
• This allows them to find how specific fenes can cause or increase the likleyhood of getting a specific disease (inherited diseases)
• E.G: BRCA increases the chance of breast cancer