Topic 6 DNA Flashcards
What does DNA stand for
Deoxyribonuleic acid
What is DNA
All the genetic material in a cells
What does DNA contain
Coded information
What does DNA determine
Inherited characteristics you have
Where is DNA found
In the nucleus of animals and plant cells in really long structures called chromosomes
What do chromosomes normally come in
Pairs
What is DNA
A polymer made up of two strands coiled together in the shape of a double helix
What does a gene code for
Each gene codes for a particular sequence of amino acids which Are put together to make a specific protein
How many amino acids are used
Only 20 amino acids make up thousands of protein
What does DNA determine
What proteins the cell produces
So in turn determines what type of cell it is
What is a Genome
Entire set of genetic material in an organism
Why is understand in the human Genome important
Allow scientist to identify genes in the Genomes that are linked to different types of disease
Knowing which genes are linked to inherited diseases could help us understand them better and help us develop effective treatments
Scientist to look at genomes to trace migration of certain populations around the world all modern humans are descended from common ancestors who lived in Africa
Why is the human genome slightly different in different people
As people have migrated away from Africa they gradually developed tiny differences in their genomes by investigating the scientist can work out how new populations split off in different directions and what route they took
