DNA Flashcards
What does DNA stand for?
deoxyribonucleic acid = chemical that all of the genetic material in a cell is made up of
What does the DNA contain?
It contains coded information - all instructions to put an organism tgth and for it to work
So what’s in your DNA determines what inherited characteristics you have
Where is DNA found?
- In the nucleus of animal and plants cells in long structures called = chromosomes
Chromosomes normally come in pairs
Define DNA?
DNA is a polymer. It’s made up of two strands coiled together in the shape of a double helix.
Define gene?
- Small section of DNA found on a chromosome
What does DNA code for?
- a particular sequence of amino acids with are put together to make a specific protein
- Only 20 amino acids are used, but they make up to thousands of different proteins
Genes simply tell cells in what order to put amino acids together
What does DNA determine?
- what proteins the cell produces that it turn determines what type of cell it is
Define Genome
- entire set of genetic material in an organism
Scientists have worked out the complete human genome
Why is understanding the human genome a really important for science and medicine??
1) allows scientist to identify genes in a genome that are linked to different types of disease. Knowing this will help us understand them better and help us develop effective treatments for them.
2) scientist could look at genomes to trace the migration of certain populations of people around the world. All modern humans are descended from a common ancestor who lived in Africa but humans can now be found all over the planet.
The human genome is almost identical in all individuals , but as different populations of people migrated away from Africa , they gradually developed tiny differences in their genomes.
By investigating these differences, scientists can work out when new populations split off in a different direction and what route they took
