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DNA and the Genome
DNA
- DNA stands for DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID, and it carries all the GENETIC MATERIAL of an organism.
- It's made up of CODED INFORMATION that acts as instructions for building and maintaining an organism.
All the genetic material of an animal is found in the NUCLEUS and is organised into structures called CHROMOSOMES.
The chromosomes are made up of strands of DNA which are COILED UP when they prepare to divide.
The DNA is made of two strands that coil into a shape known as a DOUBLE HELIX.
DNA is a POLYMER which means it is a LONG CHAIN made up of many REPEATING UNITS known a MONOMERS.
The CODED INFORMATION in DNA is used in MAKING PROTEINS (protein synthesis) by joining AMINO ACIDS together.
To make different proteins, the amino acids need to join in a PARTICULAR ORDER – the information in the DNA instructs the cell to join the amino acids together in the CORRECT ORDER to make the CORRECT PROTEIN.
GENES:
- A GENE is a small section of DNA found on a chromosome and is responsible for coding a specific PROTEIN.
- Each gene codes for a particular SEQUENCE OF AMINO ACIDS to create SPECIFIC proteins.
- These proteins perform various functions in the body, and give each person their CHARACTERISTICS.
- The proteins produced, determine the TYPE OF CELL.
GENOMES
The GENOME is the ENTIRE GENETIC MATERIAL of an organism.
The HUMAN GENOME has now been fully studied which will have great importance for science and medicine in the future.
For example:
1. Finding Genes for DISEASES
- Some diseases are caused by particular genes.
- By understanding the human genome, scientists have been able to identify which genes are responsible different diseases.
2. Understanding and Treating INHERITED DISEASES
- Inherited diseases are diseases that are PASSED DOWN from parents through GENES.
- By knowing how different genes are linked to different inherited diseases, scientists can come up with effective treatments for the diseases.
3. Tracing human MIGRATION PATTERNS
- GENOMES provide a historical record that allows scientists to trace the MIGRATION of human populations across the globe.
- All modern humans have a COMMON ANCESTOR from Africa, which is where the species originated.
- As humans spread ALL OVER THE PLANET, the human genome remained mostly IDENTICAL across individuals.
- However, as different populations migrated from Africa, they developed TINY DIFFERENCES in their genomes.
- By INVESTIGATING these genomic differences, scientists can determine when new populations branched off and the ROUTES they took around the world during migration.
DNA and the Genome
DNA
- DNA stands for DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID, and it carries all the GENETIC MATERIAL of an organism.
- It's made up of CODED INFORMATION that acts as instructions for building and maintaining an organism.
All the genetic material of an animal is found in the NUCLEUS and is organised into structures called CHROMOSOMES.
The chromosomes are made up of strands of DNA which are COILED UP when they prepare to divide.
The DNA is made of two strands that coil into a shape known as a DOUBLE HELIX.
DNA is a POLYMER which means it is a LONG CHAIN made up of many REPEATING UNITS known a MONOMERS.
The CODED INFORMATION in DNA is used in MAKING PROTEINS (protein synthesis) by joining AMINO ACIDS together.
To make different proteins, the amino acids need to join in a PARTICULAR ORDER – the information in the DNA instructs the cell to join the amino acids together in the CORRECT ORDER to make the CORRECT PROTEIN.
GENES:
- A GENE is a small section of DNA found on a chromosome and is responsible for coding a specific PROTEIN.
- Each gene codes for a particular SEQUENCE OF AMINO ACIDS to create SPECIFIC proteins.
- These proteins perform various functions in the body, and give each person their CHARACTERISTICS.
- The proteins produced, determine the TYPE OF CELL.
GENOMES
The GENOME is the ENTIRE GENETIC MATERIAL of an organism.
The HUMAN GENOME has now been fully studied which will have great importance for science and medicine in the future.
For example:
1. Finding Genes for DISEASES
- Some diseases are caused by particular genes.
- By understanding the human genome, scientists have been able to identify which genes are responsible different diseases.
2. Understanding and Treating INHERITED DISEASES
- Inherited diseases are diseases that are PASSED DOWN from parents through GENES.
- By knowing how different genes are linked to different inherited diseases, scientists can come up with effective treatments for the diseases.
3. Tracing human MIGRATION PATTERNS
- GENOMES provide a historical record that allows scientists to trace the MIGRATION of human populations across the globe.
- All modern humans have a COMMON ANCESTOR from Africa, which is where the species originated.
- As humans spread ALL OVER THE PLANET, the human genome remained mostly IDENTICAL across individuals.
- However, as different populations migrated from Africa, they developed TINY DIFFERENCES in their genomes.
- By INVESTIGATING these genomic differences, scientists can determine when new populations branched off and the ROUTES they took around the world during migration.
