B1 - You and Your Genes

Annotations:

• 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.
• Genes and Variation
• Inheritance and Genetic Diagrams
• Genetic Diagrams and Sex Chromosomes
• Genetic Disorders
• Genetic Testing
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