Genes, alleles and chromosomes

Question 1

What is DNA?

Answer 1

DNA forms the major component of chromosomes and contains coded genetic instructions.

Question 2

What are the 4 bases contained in DNA?

Answer 2

• adenine
• guanine
• cytosine
• thymine

Question 3

What is a genome?

Answer 3

Is the total set of DNA for an organism

Question 4

What is the loci / locus?

Answer 4

Same genes at the same location

Question 5

What is a gene?

Answer 5

A sequence of DNA that codes for a protein.

Question 6

What are alleles?

Answer 6

Variations of a gene at a particular locus

Question 7

What is the structure of a chromosome?

Answer 7

DNA and histones wound together to form chromatin.

Further winding and condensing of chromatin forms a chromosome.

Question 8

Linked genes

Answer 8

Linkage group genes that are physically close to each other on a chromosome and are likely to be inherited together

Question 9

Recombinant gametes

Answer 9

Sex cells that contain new combinations of alleles along their chromosomes that were present in the parental cells