DNA

Question 1

What are chromosomes in comparison to DNA?

Answer 1

Chromosomes are really long molecules of DNA

Question 2

What does ‘DNA’ stand for?

Answer 2

deoxyribonucleic acid

Question 3

DNA contains all the ____ on how to ____ an organism ____ and make it ____

Answer 3

DNA contains all the instructions on how to put an organism together and make it work

Question 4

Where is DNA found?

Answer 4

In the nucleus of animal and plant cells

Question 5

What is a gene in comparison to DNA?

Answer 5

A gene is a section of DNA

Question 6

Genes contain the ____ to make a specific ____

Answer 6

Genes contain the instructions to make a specific protein

Question 7

How do cells make proteins?

Answer 7

By stringing amino acids together in a particular order

Question 8

How many amino acids are used to make proteins?

Answer 8

Only 20

Question 9

Amino acids make up ____ of proteins

Answer 9

Amino acids make up thousands of proteins

Question 10

What do genes tell cells to do?

Answer 10

What order to put amino acids together

Question 11

DNA also determines what ____ the cell ____ . That in turn determines what ____ ____ ____ it is

Answer 11

DNA also determines what protein the cell produces

Question 12

Give 2 examples of proteins produced by cells

Answer 12

1. Haemoglobin
2. Keratin

Question 14

Give 2 examples of the types of cell decided by the proteins produced by the cell determined by the DNA

Answer 14

1. Red blood cells
2. Skin cells

Question 15

Give 2 uses of DNA fingerprinting to humans

Answer 15

1. Catching criminals
2. Identifying the father of a child

Question 16

What are the 2 exception to the rule: ‘everyone has unique DNA’?

Answer 16

1. Identical twins
2. Clones

Question 17

Define DNA fingerprinting

Answer 17

A way of cutting up a person’s DNA into small sections and then seperating them

Question 18

Every person’s genetic fingerprinting has what?

Answer 18

A unique pattern

(barring clones and identical twins)

Question 19

What 2 areas is DNA fingerprinting used in?

Answer 19

1. Forensic science
2. Paternity testing

Question 20

How is DNA used in forensic science?

Answer 20

DNA taken from a crime scene is compared with a DNA sample from a suspect

Question 21

Give 4 examples of what DNA could be taken from

Answer 21

1. Hair
2. Skin flakes
3. Semen
4. Blood

Question 22

Some people want there to be a national what?

Answer 22

A national genetic database

Question 23

Why do some people want a national genetic database?

Answer 23

DNA from a crime scene could be checked against everyone in the country to check whose it is

Question 24

For what 2 reasons are people opposed to a national genetic database?

Answer 24

1. They feel it is an invasion of privacy
2. They worry about the saftey of the data and what else it might be used for

Question 25

What are the scientific problems with a national genetic database?

Answer 25

False positives can occur if errors are made in the procedure or if the data is misinterpreted

Question 26

What is it important to remeber when comparing DNA in a paternity test?

Answer 26

That half a child’s DNA comes from the father and the other half comes from the mother