The genome, Chromosomes, genes & DNA

• What is the genetic material found in cells?

  DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid
• Where is DNA contained within a cell?

  In chromosomes in the nucleus
• How do chromosomes occur in cells?

  As functional pairs, except in gametes
• What are genes?

  Short sections of chromosomes controlling characteristics
• What is the relationship between genes and DNA?

  Genes are short lengths of DNA
• What is the term for all the DNA in an individual?

  The genome
• What is the structure of DNA?

  • Two phosphate and sugar strands
  • Held together by bases linked by hydrogen bonds
  • Repeated units along the DNA molecule
• What role does DNA play in development?

  It determines how individuals develop
• What are the four bases of DNA?

  Adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine
• What is base pairing in DNA?

  Adenine pairs with thymine, guanine with cytosine
• What is a nucleotide?

  One unit of sugar, phosphate, and base
• How is DNA structured?

  It is folded into a double helix
• How is the uniqueness of an individual's DNA determined?

  By the unique sequence of bases
• How does DNA code for proteins?

  By coding for different amino acids
• What is a base triplet?

  A group of three bases coding for an amino acid
• What happens after amino acids are coded?

  They are linked together to form proteins
• If a length of DNA has 180 bases, how many amino acids does it code for?

  Thirty amino acids
• If 60 bases in a DNA section are thymine, how many guanine bases are there?

  Thirty guanine bases
• What is the process of protein synthesis?

  1. DNA codes for amino acids
  2. Amino acids are linked together
  3. Proteins are formed
• What are the key components of DNA structure?

  • Two strands of deoxyribose sugar and phosphate
  • Base pairs (adenine-thymine, guanine-cytosine)
  • Double helix formation