6.1 The Molecular Basis for Inheritance

DNA carries genetic info on how to create proteins the body needs
46 chromosomes in a human
when the body needs a particular protein, a the specifically coded part of the DNA is activated
the nucleotide sequence is transcribed into a molecule of RNA
RNA moves to cytosol
sequence is translated by ribosomes into amino acid chains called polypeptides
the polypeptides are then turned into functional proteins elsewhere

Mendel’s pea experiment taught us heredity
All new cells arise from the division of existing cells and all optimal info is coded int the DNA
Eukaryotes: stored in nucleus
Prokaryotes: stored in cytosol

factors that are passed on are derived from genes
Genes: the coding regions of DNA, which contain the instructions for building the proteins responsible for each inherited trait
Several versions of gene: alleles
Histone: a protein molecule around which DNA is wrapped for safeguarding and compression
Bacterial DNA is stored in loops
Plasmids: small circular section of DNA found in cytosol of bacteria, replicates independently of chromosomal DNA
Nucleoid: region that contains looped DNA