Genetics Flashcards
1
Q
What are chromosomes?
A
- are structures found within the cell nucleus
- composed of
- DNA
- RNA
- polysaccharides
- histone
- non histone proteins
-
thin thread like structures that have a
- short p arm
- long q arm
- separated by a centromere
- only seen under light microscope during cell division when condensed x1000 magnifcation
2
Q
How many chromsomes does the normal human have?
A
- karotype of normal human is 46 chromosomes= diploid number
- this includes 22 autosomal pairs and **2 sex **chomosomes
3
Q
What are the chromsomes basic shape?
A
- All depend on centromere location
-
Metacentric
- chromosomes have p and q arms of approx **equal length **
- e.g. chromosome 1
-
Submetacentric
- Chromosomes have a p and q arms of different length
- e.g. chromosome 6
-
Acrocentric
- centromere is near one end
- so very short p and q long
- e.g chromosome 13
4
Q
What is DNA?
A
- Polymer of deoxyribonucleotides
- composed of
-
nitrogenous base
- purine or pyridamine
- contain genetic information
- a sugar
- phosphate group
-
nitrogenous base
5
Q
What are the purine bases?
A
- Adenine
- Guanine
6
Q
What are the pyrimidine bases?
A
- Thymine
- Cytosine
7
Q
What is the structure of DNA?
A
- Watson and Crick deduced the Double helical structure of DNA with paired bases at the centre
- Hydrogen bonds between the bases hold them together
- Adenine always paired w Thyamine = ‘AT’
- Guanine always paired with Cytosine = “GC”
8
Q
What process allow somatic cells to grow and divide?
A
- Mitosis
- replication of DNA involves unwinding of DNA
- allowing a complementary DNA daughter strand to be formed using the original strand as a template
- semi conserative process as each new helix contains one of the original chromosomal strands
9
Q
What do genes code for?
A
- Protein synthesis
10
Q
What happens in transcription?
A
- Templates are produced from the DNA in the form of messenger ribonucleic acid ( mRNA)
- the mRNA exits nucleus into the cellular cytoplasm
- By combining with other RNA moelcules such as tRNA ( transfer RNA) and ribosomal RNA ( rRNA) protein synthesis takes place at the ribosomes
11
Q
What is the role of proteins?
A
- Mechanical tissue strength seen in skeletal tissue due to collagen
- muscle contraction occurs with interaction of actin and myosin protein filaments
- proteins act as transport molecules and enzymes during biological reactions
- immune system in the form of antibodies
12
Q
What is the process of meisosis?
A
- in sexual reproduction the chromosomes separate to form a haploid number, including one copy of each autosome and a single sex chromosome
- a child inherits one half of his or her autosomal pair and one sex chromosome from each parent
13
Q
Name some whole chromosome abnormalities?
A
- Monosomy = Turner’s syndrome
- Trisomy= Down’s syndrome/ Kleinefelter
14
Q
What is the name given to loss or gain of whole chromosomes?
A
- Aneuploidy
- can effect autosomes or sex chromosomes
15
Q
What is Turner’s syndrome?
A
-
Loss of one X chromosome
- ie XO ( paternal X chromsome absent- sporadic event)
- incidence 1 in 2000 live births
- exclusively females
- short female
- skeletal abnormalities
- cubitus valgus
- medial tibial exostosis
- short 4th MC/ MT
- cranoifacial
- renal tract
- cardiovascular anomalies
16
Q
What is trisomy ?
A
- Cells have an extra chromosome
17
Q
What is down’s syndrome?
A
- Trisomy 21 ( extrachromosome 21)
- Incidence 1 in 660 live births
- Risk assoc with increase maternal age > 35 yrs
- 95% aetiology is failure of separation of the autosomal pair during meisosis
- 3.5 % due to translocation of one autosomes
- 2.5 % due to mosaicism (where some cells have 47 chromosomes)
- orthopaedic manifestations
- atlantoaxial instability
- joint laxity with recurrent dislocation of patella
- increased risk of SUFE