Genetics Flashcards
What is classification?
Placing objects into similar groups or categories
How are things classified?
Similarities in structure, function and development
What is the basic unit of classification?
Species
What is a species?
Group of similar organisms that are capable of naturally interbreeding with eachother to produce fertile offspring
What is variation within a species?
In a group of successfully interbreeding organisms, the individual members show different characteristics
How can members within a species differ in humans and plants
Human - hair colour, skin colour, height
Plant - flower colour, leaf shape
What is acquired variation and give an example
Not inherited/not genetically controlled and therefore learned and developed
Eg, ability to speak language, learn piano
What is inherited variation and give an example
Controlled by genes eg, ear shape
What is heredity?
It’s the passing on of features from parents to offspring by means of genes
What are the units of heredity?
Genes
What are characteristics?
Traits/features that are inherited genetically
What are genes?
Section of DNA that can cause production of protein
The proteins produced by genes are mainly what?
Enzymes
Why/how do genes control a cell
Enzymes they produce control cell activities
Where in the nucleus would you find genes?
On a Chromosome
What is gene expression?
It’s the precise way in which the genetic information in a gene is decoded in the cell and used to make protein
What are chromosomes composed of?
Protein and DNA
What protein is present in chromosomes?
Histone
What is the role of protein in chromosomes?
It’s responsible for holding DNA in a tightly packed configuration so it can fit nucleus
What is the function of non-coding dna
It is not known - it’s known as “junk DNA”
Name the key chemical that is inherited by organisms
Genes
What is coding and non coding DNA
Coding - DNA capable of gene expression to produce protein
Non-coding DNA - not capable of gene expression to produce protein
Where in the cell would you expect to find most DNA?
Nucleus
Name the four bases that are found in DNA
Cytosine, Guanine, Adenine, Thymine