DNA & Inheritance Flashcards
What is DNA?
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the molecule that stores and transmits genetic information that determines the characteristics of all living things. These characteristics are heritable.
What is a DNA structure
It has a double helix structure
Where is DNA located
Is located in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells.
Draw a DNA Structure Diagram
Slide 14
What are the Nitrogenous Bases (Aka Amino Acids)
Gaunine and Cytosine
Thymine and Adenine
What is the sugar phosphate backbone
Refering to Nucleotides
The phosphate attaches to the sugar of the next nucleotide, creating a ‘backbone’ of alternating phosphates and sugars, forming a strand of DNA.
What is the three subunits for a nucleotide?
A deoxyribose sugar.
A phosphate group.
One of four nitrogenous bases (amino acids):
Adenine (A)
Thymine (T)
Guanine (G)
Cytosine (C)
What are the Complimentary Base Pairings
A pairs with T
G pairs with C
These are pairable. If we think like a jigsaw puzzle, only those pieces connect with one another.
What are Genes?
A gene is a section of DNA along a chromosome. Each gene will code for a specific protein.
Genes are the basic functional unit of heredity (the transmission of genetic traits from one generation to the next).
Different genes vary in length from each other (the number of bases).
What are Chromosomes?
A chromosome is a thread-like structure composed of DNA and proteins found in the nucleus of a cell.
Chromosomes carry genetic information in the form of genes, which are segments of DNA that code for specific traits or functions.
Every cell of an organism has the same number of chromosomes.
Homologous Chromosomes
These are a pair of chromosomes that carry the same genes in the same order, although they may have different versions (alleles) of those genes.
What is an Autosome
Chromosomes NOT involved in determining the sex of the individual. Carries genetic information such as eye colour, height and blood type. Humans have 44 autosomes (22 pairs).
What is a Centromere
This is a region of the chromosome where the two sister chromatids are joined together and where the spindle fibers attach during cell division.
How many Chromosomes does a human have?
Humans have 46, but it is often expressed as 23 pairs because each chromosome is a diploid.
The pairs are the same:
Size
Shape
Banding pattern
provide information for the same characteristics.
Autosome Chromosomes are?
Chromosomes not involved in determining the sex of an organism are called non-sex chromosomes (autosomes).
How many Autosome Chromosomes do we have?
Humans have 44 (22 pairs) of non-sex chromosomes (Homologous chromosomes).
What are the Sex Chromosome Combinations?
two X chromosomes (females)
one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (males).
Proteins are?
Genes code for specific proteins. Proteins are large molecules composed of chains of amino acids. They perform a wide variety of functions in the body.
What is DNA Replication?
DNA replication is the mechanism for copying (doubling) the DNA. It occurs in the nucleus of the cell.
Is DNA Replication semi-conservative?
DNA replication is semi-conservative because each double strand of DNA consists of:
One old template strand
One new complementary strand.
How Does DNA Replication work?
The enzyme helicase breaks the hydrogen bonds between the complementary bases joining the two strands.
Each strand serves as a template for making a new strand which is complementary to the template strand .
DNA nucleotides base-pair to the exposed bases A-T or G-C.
Enzymes (known as DNA polymerases) link the nucleotides to the newly forming strand.
Each new double stranded DNA molecule rewinds into a double helix.
DNA replication occurs before…
DNA replication occurs before cell division
Why is DNA Replication important?
This is an important step before mitosis to ensure each new cell (called a daughter cell) has a complete copy of the genetic material from the parent cell.
This results in the daughter cells containing the same number of chromosomes and the same amount of DNA as the original cell.
Look at DNA Replication Diagram in book
Mitosis is?
Mitosis is a type of cell division that occurs in somatic cells (non sex cells).
What happens during mitosis?
During mitosis, a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells.
Why is Mitosis important?
This process is essential for:
growth
repair
maintenance
of tissues and organs in multicellular organisms.
Mitosis VIDEO!! From ANOEBA SISTERS!
Mitosis stages
IPMAT+C
Interphase
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
+
Cytosine
Interphase
This is the ‘pre-mitosis’ phase.
It is where the parent cell’s DNA is replicated so that two copies exist.
Isolate!
Prophase
This is where the nuclear membrane of the parent cell breaks down and the (already copied) chromosomes condense and become visible under a microscope.
At this stage, each chromosome consists of a pair of identical chromatids joined by a structure called a centromere.
Long protein filaments called spindle fibres are formed between the two centrioles to form a structure known as the spindle.
PREPARE!!
Metaphase
This stage is where the pair of chromatids are gradually moved to the equator of the cell by the spindle fibres.
MIDDLE!!