Tour the Basics

Log on to: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/ Explore this activity to find the answers

to the questions below.

- What is DNA?:

1. What is DNA?

DNA is the stringy stuff in the test tube that can’t be tell which organisms it came from just by
looking at it.

2. What does “DNA” stand for?

DNA stand for deoxyribonucleic acid

3. What is the four-letter DNA alphabet and what are the special rules by which the alphabet
pieces bond together? Hint: Nitrogenous bases

The four-letter DNA are A, G, C, and T. The rules are A(adenine) goes with T(thymine) and
G(guanine) goes with C(cytosine)

4. What is a gene?

Gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that encodes the synthesis of a gene product

5. What are genes made of?

Genes are made out of building DNAs

6. How many genes do humans have?

Humans have between 20,000 and 25,000 genes.

7. For what molecule do genes contain the instructions for building?

Proteins contains the instructions for building in the genes.

8. What is a chromosome?

Chromosome is a DNA molecule with part or all of the genetic material of an organism

9. How many chromosomes does a human cell hold?

Human cell hold 23 pairs of chromosomes.

10. How are the human sex chromosomes labeled?

Human sex chromosomes are labeled as X or Y.

11. How many different kinds of proteins does one cell contain?

Thousands of proteins are being hold in one cell

12. Why do scientists use computer programs to model protein structure and function?

Proteins are very small and hard to see.

13. What provides the “blueprint” for making a protein?

Genes provide the blueprint for making a protein.

14. Which organelle is responsible for actually making proteins?

Endoplasmic reticulum is responsible for making proteins.

15. What is heredity?

Heredity is the passing of traits from parent to child.

16. Why aren’t children identical to either one of their parents?

Each parent contributes one set of chromosomes to each child. The set of chromosomes is
passed on randomly, so each child receives a unique combination.

17. In humans, how many chromosomes does each parent pass on to their offspring?

Each parent passes on 23 chromosomes to their offspring.

18. Does the second baby in the “What is Heredity?” animation inherits the exact same
chromosomes as the first? Do both babies have a complete set?

No, the second baby's chromosomes are different from the first baby's.

19. What is a trait?

A trait is a notable feature or quality in a person.

20. List the types of traits that exist.

There are: physical traits, behavioral traits, and predispositions to medical conditions.
21. Give an example of how environmental factors can influence a trait.

Exposure to sun or hair dyes can changehair color, eating healthy foods and exercising can
decrease the risk of heart disease.

22. What is an allele?

A variant form of a given gene, meaning it is one of two or more versions of a known
mutation at the same place on a chromosome.

23. What does the term homozygous mean?

Homozygous mean having two identical alleles of a particular gene or genes.

24. What does the term heterozygous mean?

Heterozygous mean having two different alleles of a particular gene or genes.

25. How are traits inherited?

Traits Are Inherited from a Parent through Transmission of DNA