Genes, Chromosomes and DNA
- Most cells in your body have a nucleus — the nucleus contains your genetic material.
- Genetic material is arranged into chromosomes.
- The human cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes.
- Each chromosome is one long molecule of DNA thar is coiled up.
- A gene is a short length of a chromosome.
- Genes control the development of different characteristics and how an organism functions.
- Genes can exist in different versions. These are called alleles.
- Genes are instructions for cells. Eaxh gene is a code for making a certain protein.
- Proteins are the building blocks of cells.
- Some proteins are structural — they're part of things like skin, hair, blood and cytoplasm in the cell. E.g. collagen is a structural protein.
- There are also functional proteins. Enzymes are proteins that help with digestion. Amylase is a digestive enzyme that breaks down starch.
- An organism's genotype describes the genes it has.
- The characteristics an organism displays are called its phenotype.
- Characteristics can be controlled by genes or environmental factors or both.