DNA Flashcards
what does DNA stand for
DeoxyriboNucleic Acid
what is DNA
a chemical component found in the nucleus that stores coded instructions for proteins and cells
structure of DNA
shaped as a double helix and is anti parallel meaning the strands run in opposite directions
what are nucleotides
basic units of DNA (monomers) consisting of phosphate, deoxyribose sugar and nitrogenous base
what are the nitrogenous bases
Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine (A+T) (G+C)
why is understanding DNA important
identify disorders and develop treatments, advances research on gene therapy and cancer
chromsome structure
chromosomes can either be single stranded or double stranded, they have chromatids and centromere in the middle
describe sex chromsomes
involves sex determination, XX= female XY= male
describe autosomal chromosomes
any chromosomes other than the sex chromosomes that are the first 22 pairs in humans
what is a karyotype
picture of all the homologous chromosomes in a cell from smallest to largest
what are chromosomes
they are strands of DNA wrapped around in protein that store genetic information in genes
how are karyotypes useful in genetics
studies evolution, heredity diseases andidentify genetic disorders and chromosomal abnormalities to develop treatments
how are karyotypes useful in medical research
advance medical research in fields like gene therapy and cancer treatment and improves biotechnology
what is a gene
a section of DNA which contains a particular set o instructions
explain a genes function
genes are codes which produce specific proteins
what is the relationship between DNA, chromosomes and genes
genes are sections of DNA, chromosomes are also DNA and contain many genes but are structures of tightly coiled DNA
how does the body produce so many proteins with only four bases
the different combinations of bases codes for different amino acids and the different order of amino acids makes different proteins
which type of chemical bonds connects the bases to each other
hydrogen bonds
