Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecule, a material rather, that is present in almost all living organisms. It is self-replicating and is the main constituent of chromosomes. DNA contains genetic/hereditary information. The transmission of traits from one generation to the next is called inheritance. Genetics helps determine the role of DNA in the inheritance of genetic traits.
Genetics is the study of heredity. Offspring obtain genes from parents by a process known as inheritance. Genes(segments of DNA on a chromosome) are the hereditary units of coded information that parents endow to their offspring. The genes in our body program specific traits as we develop from fertilized eggs into adults. The genetic program in our body is the DNA
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The transmission of hereditary traits to some extent has it’s molecular basis in the replication of DNA. The process of DNA replication produces numerous amounts of copies of genes that can be transferred/passed from the parent to the offspring. Animals and plants have specific cells that drive the inheritance of genes. These cell’s are called reproductive cell’s(gametes). Gametes transmit genes from one generation to the next. During fertilization in animals, the male gametes(sperm) and female gametes(eggs) fuse, transferring genes of both parents to the offspring. DNA of any eukaryotic cell is packaged into chromosome into the nucleus of the cell. For every species, there is an unique number of chromosomes. Take humans for instance, each human has 46 chromosomes. These 46 chromosomes are situated in the somatic cells(all cell in the body except gametes) of the body. Chromosomes consists of a long strand of DNA molecule tightly coiled in conjunction with a variety of proteins. A single chromosome consists of several hundreds to several thousand genes. Each gene has a specific sequence of …show more content…
By examining the structure of DNA, it is easier and clearer to see what factors are taken into account when the genes are passed on from parent to offspring. DNA are part of an elite group of compounds called nucleic acids. Nucleic acids are polymers made out of monomers called nucleotides. DNA provides directions for its own replication, directs the synthesis of Ribonucleic acid(RNA) and also controls protein synthesis. This entire process is better known as the gene expression. On a DNA molecule, each gene directs the synthesis of a special type of RNA called messenger RNA. This mRNA molecule works in conjunction with the cell’s protein synthesizing mechanisms to direct the production of a polypeptide chain, which ultimately results in the formation of a protein. Protein synthesis occurs on the ribosomes. However, DNA is found in the nucleus. Nucleic acids comprises of several components. They are macromolecules that exist in the form known as polynucleotides. As mentioned earlier, the monomers of polynucleotides are nucleotides. A nucleotide is made up of three parts: a pentose sugar, a nitrogen containing base and a phosphate group. The sugar that is found in DNA is deoxyribose(lacks an oxygen atom on the second carbon in the ring) and in RNA is ribose. There are four nitrogenous bases in DNA. Each nitrogenous base has one or two rings that include nitrogen
DNA is the genetic material found in cells of all living organisms. Human beings contain approximately one trillion cells (Aronson 9). DNA is a long strand in the shape of a double helix made up of small building blocks (Riley). The repeat segments are cut out of the DNA strand by a restrictive enzyme that acts like scissors and the resulting fragments are sorted out by electrophoresis (Saferstein 391).
DNA is made up of nucleotides, and a strand of DNA is known as a polynucleotide. A nucleotide is made up of three parts: A phosphate (phosphoric acid), a sugar (Deoxyribose in the case of DNA), and an organic nitrogenous base2 of which there are four. The four bases are as followed: Adenine (A), Cytosine
The study of nucleic acids has now become a fruitful and dynamic scientific enterprise. Nucleic acids are of unique importance in biological systems. Genes are made up of deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA, and each gene is a linear segment, or polymer, of a long DNA molecule. A DNA polymer, or DNA oligonucleotide, contains a linear arrangement of subunits called nucleotides. There are four types of nucleotides. Each nucleotide has three components; a phosphate group, a sugar and a base that contains nitrogen within its structure. The sugar moiety in DNA oligonucleotides is always dexoyribose, and there are four alternative bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). The phosphate groups and the deoxyribose sugars form the backbone of each DNA stand. The bases are joined to the deoxyribose sugar and stick out to the side. Both oligomers, DNA and RNA, consist of 5’->3’ phosphodiester-linked nucleotide units that are composed of a 2’-deoxy-D-ribose (DNA) or D-ribose (RNA) in their furanose forms and a heteroaromatic nucleobase (A, T, G, and C; A, U, G, C), and the resulting oligonucleotide chain is composed of a polar, negatively charged sugar-phosphate backbone and an array of hydrophobic nucleobases. The amphiphilic nature of these polymers dictates the assembly and maintenance of secondary and tertiary structures the oligonucleotides can form. In the DNA duplex structure, genetic information is stored as a linear nucleotide code. This code can be accessed and replicated. RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is another structurally related essential biopolymer. RNA differs from DNA in having the sugar ribose in place of the deoxyribos...
Since DNA has the instructions for making the proteins, but it has to be highly protected, it doesn’t leave the nucleus where it is mostly found (Hall, 6). DNA’s function is to be a long-term storage and transmission of the genetic information (DNA vs RNA, 2014). Copies of certain instructions needed for proteins can be made in the form of RNA. It’s not an exact copy of what is found in DNA, but RNA can travel out of the nucleus with the instructions. RNA make...
Knows as the “Father of Genetics” Mendel is said to have started the conversation leading DNA’s discovery. In 1866, Mendel concluded that genes are formed in pairs and are passed down from parents as distinct units. His experiment consisted of a control plant and he tracked the segregation of those genes in the appearance of them in the offspring. He labeled them as dominant and recessive traits. Through his discovery, Mendel established the rules that future generations of scientists would use in their research. These rules known as “Mendel’s Laws of Heredity” and include three rules. These include The Law of Segregation (a gene pair defines each inherited trait.), The Law of Independent Assortment (Genes for different traits are sorted separately from one another), and The Law of Dominance (An organism with alternate forms of a gene will express the form that is dominant.). Innovative and time-consuming, Mendel’s work went extremely underappreciated and was not put to use until after
Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid (DNA) is a chromosome found in the nucleus of a cell, which is a double-stranded helix (similar to a twisted ladder). DNA is made up of four bases called adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C), that is always based in pairs of A with T and G with C. The four bases of A, C, G, and T were discovered by Phoebus Levene in 1929, which linked it to the string of nucleotide units through phosphate-sugar-base (groups). As mention in Ananya Mandal research paper, Levene thought the chain connection with the bases is repeated in a fix order that make up the DNA molecu...
Chemistry dictates the structure of DNA. DNA is a polymer of monomers called nucleic acids. These are made of a nitrogenous base, a phosphate group and a sugar. It is the negative charge on the phosphate group that makes DNA an acid. There are 4 different bases: adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine. In groups of three, these four bases can code for any protein coded for in an organism’s genome. Two strands of nucleic acids stack on top of each other in a double helix. The backbone of the nucleic acids consists of the interaction between phosphate groups and the hydroxide groups of nucleic acids. These are held together by covalent bonds called phosphodiester bonds. The helix itself is held together by hydrogen bonds. Although h...
...hich inherited traits, such as those for genetic disease, can be tracked over generations. Throughout out the course of human development, scientists will continue to find new new ways to help the human race through the discovery of the human gene inside of each of us, its uses, as well as complications, that can help the survival of our species.
All living things contain DNA. The molecule deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA is what contains an organism’s genetic information. The genetic information contained in DNA is what an organism requires to not only develop and reproduce but also survive. A DNA molecule is built up of nucleotides. Nucleotides are composed of several different things and what the nucleotides are composed of determines the name of it. Another job of DNA is to pass the genetic information through the process of protein synthesis. The DNA can show birth defects in the fetus using different testing. The knowledge of the birth defects of the fetus can be both positive and negative. DNA is a simple yet complex molecule that is used by all living things and makes us the way
1. DNA is a nucleic acid that carries the genetic information in the cell and is capable of self-replication and synthesis of RNA. DNA consists of two long chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix and joined by hydrogen bonds between the complementary bases adenine and thymine or cytosine and guanine. The sequence of nucleotides determines individual hereditary characteristics.
... have been doing a phenomenal job of figuring this out. DNA is the chemical in each cell that carries our genes. DNA is the source of just about everything. It not only determines what we look like, but also many other things. Instructions are on some of our genes to let them know when they need to multiply and divide. Cancers can be caused by DNA defects.
Genes are expected to give offspring hereditary similarities to the parent. However, this was not known and Gregory Mendel asked himself what was passed on by parents to their offspring that is the basis for similarity. Mendel would go on through experiments with pea plants to answer short questions. The answers were short as well as to say that the passing of characteristics from parents to the offspring is throug...
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a self-replicating molecule or material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent in chromosomes. It encodes the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and many viruses. Simply put, DNA contains the instructions needed for an organism to develop, survive and reproduce. The discovery and use of DNA has seen many changes and made great progress over many years. James Watson was a pioneer molecular biologist who is credited, along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, with discovering the double helix structure of the DNA molecule. The three won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1962 for their work (Bagley, 2013). Scientist use the term “double helix” to describe DNA’s winding, two-stranded chemical structure. This shape looks much like a twisted ladder and gives the DNA the power to pass along biological instructions with great precision.
Genes from parents are passed down to their children and this sets up their lifelong development. When a male cell meets with female reproductive cell, they start a process for a new life in a woman’s womb. The sperm has a different copy of the gene and an egg the same and so when they meet, two copies of genes are present and through them a new life begins and it will comprise both genes. From the eyes to the color of the hair, genetics plays a role in a person’s biological make up and development. Genes can predetermine many different characteristics in human development.
Genetics is the passing of characteristics from parents to offspring through genes. Genes are information