Fundamentals of Genes and Genomes PDF

Fundamentals of Genes and Genomes Eva Joie G. Amestoso, M.Sc. Natural Sciences Department College of Arts and Sciences Bukidnon State University  BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES, GENOMICS, AND BIOINFORMATICS Genetic information is stored in the cell in the form of biological macromolecules,...

Fundamentals of Genes and Genomes Eva Joie G. Amestoso, M.Sc. Natural Sciences Department College of Arts and Sciences Bukidnon State University  BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES, GENOMICS, AND BIOINFORMATICS Genetic information is stored in the cell in the form of biological macromolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins.  THE UNIVERSAL GENETIC MATERIAL  Criteria of a Good Genetic Material Information Transmission Replication Variation  DNA as the Genetic Material DNA Chromosome Genes The Structure of DNA Primary structure Secondary structure Tertiary structure Alternative Forms of DNA The Chromosome The Gene How is the information in a gene encoded? Morse code is a method used in telecommunication to encode text char acters as standardized sequences of two different signal durations, called dots and dashes, or dits and dahs Genetic Code  The genetic code consists of the sequence of nitrogen bases—A, C, G, U—in an mRNA chain. The four bases make up the “letters” of the genetic code. The letters are combined in groups of three to form code “words,” called codons. Each codon stands for (encodes) one amino acid, unless it codes for a start or stop signal. Reading the Genetic Code  Characteristics of the Genetic Code The genetic code is universal. The genetic code is unambiguous. The genetic code is redundant.  Properties of the Genetic Code 1. The genetic code consists of a sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA.  Properties of the Genetic Code 2. The genetic code is a triplet code.  Properties of the Genetic Code 3. The genetic code is degenerate.  Properties of the Genetic Code 4. Isoaccepting tRNAs are tRNAs with different anticodons that accept the same amino acid; wobble allows the anticodon on one type of tRNA to pair with more than one type of codon on mRNA.  Properties of the Genetic Code 5. The code is generally nonoverlapping  Properties of the Genetic Code 6. The reading frame is set by an initiation codon, which is usually AUG.  Properties of the Genetic Code 7. When a reading frame has been set, codons are read as successive groups of three nucleotides.  Properties of the Genetic Code 8. Any one of three termination codons (UAA, UAG, and UGA) can signal the end of a protein; no amino acids are encoded by the termination codons. 9. The code is almost universal.