Podcast
Questions and Answers
What structure of DNA was discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953?
What structure of DNA was discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953?
Which base pairs are correctly matched according to complementary base pairing in DNA?
Which base pairs are correctly matched according to complementary base pairing in DNA?
What is the basic unit of heredity in living organisms?
What is the basic unit of heredity in living organisms?
What type of alleles does an individual with homozygous recessive brown eye colour possess?
What type of alleles does an individual with homozygous recessive brown eye colour possess?
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Which statement about genes is true?
Which statement about genes is true?
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What does the order of bases in a gene determine?
What does the order of bases in a gene determine?
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Which of the following components make up the backbone of a DNA strand?
Which of the following components make up the backbone of a DNA strand?
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Which of the following is an example of a characteristic controlled by a single gene?
Which of the following is an example of a characteristic controlled by a single gene?
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Study Notes
DNA Structure and Function
- DNA is a large, complex molecule that carries the genetic code, determining an organism's traits.
- DNA is comprised of two strands coiled into a double helix.
- The "backbone" of each strand is made of alternating sugar and phosphate molecules, with bases connecting the strands.
- Four bases compose DNA: thymine (T), adenine (A), guanine (G), and cytosine (C).
- Bases pair up in a specific way: T pairs with A, and G pairs with C (complementary base pairing).
- The order of bases determines the order of amino acids, which create specific proteins.
Genes
- A gene is a segment of DNA that codes for a specific protein.
- It's the fundamental unit of heredity.
- Genes are copied and passed on to offspring.
- Some traits result from a single gene, like fur color or color blindness.
Chromosomes
- Chromosomes are long DNA strands, found in the cell's nucleus.
- Each chromosome contains many genes.
- A diagram displays how cells, nuclei, chromosomes and genes relate to each other
Base Pairs and Amino Acid Sequence
- The order of bases within a gene determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein.
- Each gene has a unique base sequence.
- This unique sequence creates a unique protein.
Alleles
- Genes can have different forms called alleles.
- For example, the gene for eye color might have an allele for blue eyes and an allele for brown eyes.
- Individuals may possess identical or different alleles for a particular gene.
Triplet Code (Higher Tier Only)
- The triplet code is a three-base sequence that determines the order of amino acids in a protein.
- Each amino acid has a unique triplet code.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the fundamental structures and roles of DNA, genes, and chromosomes. This quiz will cover the double helix structure, complementary base pairing, and heredity through genes. Discover how these genetic components contribute to the traits of living organisms.
