DNA and stuff Flashcards
What is inheritance
Inheritanceis thetransmission of genetic information from generation to generation
where are chromosomes located
Chromosomesare located in thenucleusof cells
What are chromosomes
They arethread-like structures of DNA, carrying genetic information in the form of genes
what are genes
Ageneis a short length ofDNAfound on a chromosome thatcodes for a specific protein
This could be a structural protein such as collagen found in skin cells, an enzyme or a hormone
Genes control our characteristics as they code for proteins that play important roles in what our cells do
What are alleles
Allelesaredifferent versions of a particular gene. The ABO gene for blood group type has three alleles,IA, IBandIO
Simple definition of a gene
Genes are short lengths of DNA that code for a protein. They are found on chromosomes
how many chromosomes in human
All humans have23 different chromosomesin each cell
In most body cells, not including the gametes (sex cells), we have 2 copies of each chromosome, leading to a total of46 chromosomes
Nuclei and Gametes
Nuclei with two sets of chromosomes are known asdiploid nuclei
Thegametes(egg and sperm cells) only have one copy of each chromosome, meaning they have atotal of 23 chromosomesin each cell
Nuclei with one set of unpaired chromosomes are known ashaploid nuclei
XY and XX chromosomes
Sex is determined by anentire chromosome pair(as opposed to most other characteristics that are just determined by one or a number of genes)
Femaleshave the sex chromosomesXX
Maleshave the sex chromosomesXY
As only a father can pass on a Y chromosome, he isresponsible for determining the sex of the child