DNA Structure and Cell Division

James Watson and Francis Crick proposed the model of a double helix structure for DNA in 1953. It was a major breakthrough in science as it became the most famous and intensely studied molecule, providing insights into the genetic material and its functions.

Genes have two main functions: transmission of genetic information and expression of genetic information. Genes are organized into chromosomes, which contain DNA associated with proteins.

A gene is a sequence of DNA that codes for a gene product, usually a protein or RNA. Its role in heredity is to serve as the basic unit of heredity, passing genetic information to the next generation of offspring cells.

<p>It has been shown that a gene can code for several proteins or RNA as a product. This expands the traditional understanding of genes coding for a single product.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Genes are important in nature as they carry the genetic information passed to the next generation of offspring cells following division of the parental cell. They are also the basic units of heredity, controlling the activities of a cell and playing a crucial role in transmitting genetic information.</p> Signup and view all the answers