4.6.1.4 - DNA and the genome

What is our genetic material made from?

A chemical called DNA - Deoxyribonuclei acid

What is DNA.

DNA is a polymer made up of two strands forming a double helix . The monomers of DNA are nucleotides (which are made from a phosphate attached to a sugar attached ti a base)

Dna is contained in?

DNA is contained in structures called chromosomes

chromosomes?

which are long strands of DNA that contains lots of genes)

gene?

A gene - is a small section of DNA on a chromosome

What does each gene code for?

Each gene codes for a particular sequence of amino acids - to make a specific protein

how many amino acids?

20

So what does DNA determine?

So DNA determines which protein is going to be Mae based on what order genes code them in

Genome?

Genome - of an organisms refers to the entire genetic material of that organism

Why is important that the whole human genome has been studied?

• allows scientists to identify certain genes that are linked to different types of disease

• Understanding which genes are linked to inherited disorders can help develop more efficient treatments for them

• Can be used to trace human migration patterns from the past.