IS THE STUDY OF HOW TRAITS ARE PASSED ON.
Traits - WHAT ARE THEY?
- your characteristics, for example your eye color, your height, the shape of your nose… Note: Most of your traits are not visible; they are inside your body. YOU GET YOUR TRAITS FROM YOUR PARENTS. IF THEY DON'T CARRY A GENE FOR SOMETHING THAN YOU WON'T GET IT.
HEREDITY
IS THE PASSING OF TRAITS FROM PARENTS TO OFFSPRING OR BABIES.
DNA - What is it?- is the master molecule that contains all the information about the organism's traits.
WHERE DO YOU FIND THE DNA?
It is found in the nucleus of any of your cells.
- Your traits are your proteins
- The information found on your DNA is used as direction to make your proteins or your traits.
DNA - How is it made?
- DNA is made by linking smaller molecules called nucleotides.
THIS IS A NUCLEOTIDE
DNA - What does it look like?
- is described as a double helix or twisted ladder.
DNA model
Nucleotide -What is it?
It is the parts that you join to make DNA
THIS IS NUCLEOTIDE
What are the parts of a nucleotide?
- Each nucleotide is made up of a phosphate, a sugar (deoxyribose) and a base.
- It is the bases that hold together the two strands of DNA using weak hydrogen bonds.
- There are four nitrogen bases in DNA. They adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine.
How do the bases pair in DNA?
- Adenine pairs with Thymine
- Guanine pairs with Cytosine.
( A---T, G----C)
CHECK OUT THIS ILLUSTRATION OF A DOUBLE STRANDED DNA!
- DNA is a polymer. A polymer is a large molecule that is made by linking smaller molecules.- (Examples of other biological polymers are: starch is made by linking glucose, protein is made by linking amino acids.)
DNA - How is it made?
- The DNA is not one continuous molecule.
- It is made of pieces called chromosomes, and each chromosome has thousands of genes.
CHROMOSOME - WHAT IS IT?
- is one molecule of DNA, usually contains thousands of genes and proteins.
CHROMOSOME
GENE - What is it?
-is a segment or a piece of your chromosome that is responsible for one of your traits. For example, you have the gene for eye color, the gene for heights.
It is estimated that the average person has about 50 to 100,000 genes!
CHECK OUT THE RELATION BETWEEN GENES AND CHROMOSOMES
GENES ARE FOUND ON THE CHROMOSOMES
AND
CHROMOSOMES ARE FOUND INSIDE THE NUCLEUS.
When is the DNA made?
REMEMBER: DNA is made during a process called replication. The time between when cells are dividing is known as interphase. This is when replication occurs in the cell's nucleus. Replication means copy.
- This event is very important in order for the CELL to have a new set of chromosomes for the new cell(s).
Let's check out this event. BUILD A DNA MOLECULE. Click the link below!!
"INTERACTIVE DNA REPLICATION 1"
CHECK OUT THIS ANIMATION
"DNA REPLICATION" (advance)
How is DNA replication initiated?
- DNA replication begins when an enzyme opens the DNA and each of the old strands is used as a template or a pattern to copy a new strand. (A----T, G----C) Replication is necessary during interphase before the cell undergo mitosis or meiosis when the cell is replicating.
Question: If information on the DNA is information on how to make your proteins, how does this information get to the protein factory or the ribosome?
Answer: This information is sent through a mRNA.
mRNA - What is it?
Check this out!
The RNA has three bases in common with the DNA. Like DNA, RNA has A (adenine), G (guanine) and C (cytosine.
In RNA
A pairs with U, (A_ U)
G pairs with C, (G _ C)
Why doesn't the DNA itself carry the message to the protein factory or the ribosome?
Question: If information on the DNA is information on how to make your proteins, how does this information get to the protein factory or the ribosome?
Answer: This information is sent through a mRNA.
mRNA - What is it?
- The DNA makes a copy of the gene that it wants to express and this copy is called mRNA.
_It is the mRNA that leaves the nucleus and carries the genetic information to the ribosome to be used as direction for protein synthesis.
Transcription- is the process of converting DNA into RNA
AMAZING!!! This DNA is making an mRNA copy of one of its genes. (this is called transcription)
_It is the mRNA that leaves the nucleus and carries the genetic information to the ribosome to be used as direction for protein synthesis.
Transcription- is the process of converting DNA into RNA
AMAZING!!! This DNA is making an mRNA copy of one of its genes. (this is called transcription)
Check this out!
The RNA has three bases in common with the DNA. Like DNA, RNA has A (adenine), G (guanine) and C (cytosine.
- However, the RNA does not have T (thymine), instead it has U (uracil).
- DNA has deoxyribose as sugar and RNA has ribose.
- DNA is double stranded and RNA is single stranded.
- They are both make by linking nucleotides
In RNA
A pairs with U, (A_ U)
G pairs with C, (G _ C)
Why doesn't the DNA itself carry the message to the protein factory or the ribosome?
- The DNA contains thousands of genes it is much too big to fit through the pores or the holes of the nuclear membrane.
- If the DNA migrates or moves to the cytoplasm, it can be attacked by special enzymes called nucleases.
- Because the DNA is so big, it would take too long to get to the ribosome.
- Additionally, if the mRNA gets damaged, the master copy, the DNA simply makes another mRNA.
What happens to the information on the DNA?
How does the DNA get the information for protein synthesis to the protein factory or the ribosome?
- The information on the DNA is used to make the organism's proteins
How does the DNA get the information for protein synthesis to the protein factory or the ribosome?
- The DNA makes a mRNA copy of a gene it wants to express and send this copy to the protein factory, the ribosome. (Although the DNA has the information on how to make all of your proteins, it is not making them all at the same time. The DNA is very conservative; it only makes what it needs when it needs it.)
Most of the time, the cell is not replicating or copying its DNA. It is expressing its genes or making its genes' products. That is, the information on the DNA is being converted into proteins.
DNA to RNA to Proteins
- Transcription is the copying of a DNA into mRNA and this takes place in the nucleus.- Translation is when the mRNA is being used as direction to make an amino acid sequence or protein and this takes place at the ribosome.
- Every three bases or letters represents a CODON.
-Each codon codes for or represents particular amino acid. For example, UUU codes for the amino acid PHE
- Information on the DNA is used as direction to make your proteins.
- Example of proteins are: enzymes, antibodies and hormones.
Click here:
INTERACTIVE PROTEIN SYNTHESIS # 1
Check this out!
"INTERACTIVE PROTEIN SYNTHESIS"
Some roles that proteins play in the body:
- Enzymes-speed up the rate of chemical reactions
- Hormones-chemical signals (used in communication)
- Hemoglobin- Carries oxygen
- Antibodies- Fight infections
- Myoglobin- Stores oxygen in muscle cells
Preview: All proteins have specific shape. An enzyme that breaks down starch will not be able to break down protein because they have different shape. An antibody against the measles will not fight chicken pox because they have different shape. The sex hormone testosterone will not interact with the receptor for the hormone insulin because they have different shape.
Traits - WHAT ARE THEY?
- your characteristics, for example your eye color, your height, the shape of your nose…
- However, the expression of your traits can be modified by environmental conditions.
- EXAMPLE: two identical twins one grows up in America and the other grows up in Jamaica. With little knowledge in genetics, it is very easy to infer that these twins will not look identical. The one who grows up in Jamaica will be darker because of the sun and may be shorter and slimmer because of availability and types of food. While the one in the US will be lighter because of less exposure to the sun and may be taller and chunky because food in the states have growth hormones.
What is DNA?
How are the bases paired in DNA?
Where do you find DNA inside the cell?
Why is necessary for the DNA to make a RNA copy?
What is the relation between genes and chromosomes?
How are the bases paired in RNA?
Explain transcription.
Explain translation.
Explain differentiation.
Who do we get our genes from?
List three differences between DNA and RNA.
NOTE:
Information in the DNA is information on how to make your proteins. Any change in the DNA can lead to a change in the protein.
LET US TAKE A SLIGHT DETOUR.
-Restriction Enzymes are bacteria enzymes that are used to cut double stranded DNA at specific locations called restriction sites. The locations of restriction sites on the chromosomes are not the same for everybody. However, since we inherit our chromosomes from our parents, we also inherit our restriction sites from our parents.
Restriction enzymes are the cutting tools in genetics!
What does that mean?
-If the same restriction enzyme is used to cut your DNA and your parents DNA, the size of the pieces that are generated or made will be the same or similar.
How does this information help anybody?
-This information is used to help determine relationship. It is used to determine paternity. (Who’s the baby's daddy?) It is also used in crime scene investigation. It is commonly known as the DNA test.
This is how it works.
-DNA samples are collected from both the father and the baby. Both samples are treated with the same restriction enzymes. Then they are placed in a special apparatus (machine) called gel electrophoresis, which separates the pieces of DNA based on their size and create visual pattern. If this is the father of the baby, the patterns that are created by the baby's DNA and the father's DNA will be similar.
Gel electrophoresis separates molecules based on their sizes.
Want to learn more?
Check out this link!
"RESTRICTION ENZYMES/GEL ELECTROPHORESIS"
A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED.....
Mutation-What is it?- any permanent change in the DNA
Possible consequences of mutation
Mutation-What is it?- any permanent change in the DNA
Possible consequences of mutation
- a mutation can lead to illness
- can lead to death
- can improve the organism
- can cause no change in the organism
What is DNA?
- DNA is the master molecule that has all of the information about the organism's traits.
How are the bases paired in DNA?
- A___T, G____C
Where do you find DNA inside the cell?
- DNA is found in the nucleus.
Why is necessary for the DNA to make a RNA copy?
- The DNA is too big and it cannot fit though the pores or the holes of the nuclear membrane and also this is done to prevent the DNA from being attacked by nucleases or enzymes that break down DNA.
What is the relation between genes and chromosomes?
- On each chromosome, there are thousands of genes. A gene is a piece of your chromosome that codes for one of your traits.
How are the bases paired in RNA?
- A___U, G____C
Explain transcription.
- Transcription is the process where the DNA is being copied into RNA. This event takes place inside the nucleus.
Explain translation.
- Translation is when the mRNA is being converted to an amino acid sequence or protein. This event takes place at the ribosome.
Explain differentiation.
- Differentiation is when your cells become specialized. For example, your bone cells and your skin cells they both have the same DNA. However, they each focus on different genes and this allows them to become different cells.
Who do we get our genes from?
- We get our genes from our parents.
List three differences between DNA and RNA.
- DNA is double stranded and RNA is single stranded.
- DNA has thymine as a base and RNA has uracil.
- DNA has deoxyribose as a sugar and RNA has ribose.
NOTE:
Information in the DNA is information on how to make your proteins. Any change in the DNA can lead to a change in the protein.
LET US TAKE A SLIGHT DETOUR.
-Restriction Enzymes are bacteria enzymes that are used to cut double stranded DNA at specific locations called restriction sites. The locations of restriction sites on the chromosomes are not the same for everybody. However, since we inherit our chromosomes from our parents, we also inherit our restriction sites from our parents.
Restriction enzymes are the cutting tools in genetics!
What does that mean?
-If the same restriction enzyme is used to cut your DNA and your parents DNA, the size of the pieces that are generated or made will be the same or similar.
How does this information help anybody?
-This information is used to help determine relationship. It is used to determine paternity. (Who’s the baby's daddy?) It is also used in crime scene investigation. It is commonly known as the DNA test.
This is how it works.
-DNA samples are collected from both the father and the baby. Both samples are treated with the same restriction enzymes. Then they are placed in a special apparatus (machine) called gel electrophoresis, which separates the pieces of DNA based on their size and create visual pattern. If this is the father of the baby, the patterns that are created by the baby's DNA and the father's DNA will be similar.
Gel electrophoresis separates molecules based on their sizes.
Want to learn more?
Check out this link!
"RESTRICTION ENZYMES/GEL ELECTROPHORESIS"
