DNA and genome

• • DNA is genetic material in nucleus of a cell
  • contains coded information
  • determines inherited characteristics
• • DNA found in chromosomes
• • DNA is polymer
  • made up of two strands forming double helix
• • gene is small section of DNA on chromosomes
  • each gene codes for sequence of amino acids, to make specific proteins
  • DNA determines what proteins are produced e.g heamoglobin
  • therefore, determines type of cell e.g red blood cell
• • the genome is entire material of organism
  • human genome has been completed
• advantages of genome:

  • able to search for genes linked to different types of disease
  • understand genes linked to inherited diseases and find treatment
  • trace migration patterns from past
  • different populations of people migrated from Africa and developed differences in genome
  • able to work out when populations split and where they went