Lecture 1: Arrangement of Genes

OBJECTIVES

• Explain in molecular terms what is meant by a gene and the variations of the standard

gene.

• Discuss the importance and relationship between genome size and organism complexity.

• Describe the arrangement (and expression) of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes.

• Describe the types and functions of gene sequences in genomes.

Nucleic Acids and Genes

The Central Dogma/Principle of Molecular Biology

The flow of genetic information and thus gene expression:

DNA -----------------------> RNA ------------------------> Protein
DNA replication transcription translation

Characteristics of a species are stored within living cells as its genes.

Definitions

1. DNA – Deoxyribonucleic Acid: hereditary material in humans

2. RNA – Ribonucleic Acid: genetic material that transcribes DNA’s instructions and

translates these into proteins. Many functions and types of mRNA, tRNA and rRNA.

a. mRNA – transcribe the genetic code from DNA into a form that can be read and

used to make proteins.

b. tRNA – decodes the mRNA sequence into amino acids that make up proteins.

c. rRNA – holds ribosomal proteins in place and locates the begin and end of the

mRNA message.
 3. Nucleotides consists of pentose sugar, phosphate group and nitrogenous base. They link

through phosphodiester linkage.

4. Nucleoside consists of pentose sugar and nitrogenous base.

5. The pentose sugar in RNA is β-D-ribose (OH group present on carbon-2) while for DNA

it is β-D-2-deoxyribose (H present on carbon-2)

6. Nitrogenous bases include:

a. Purines: Adenine and Guanine

b. Pyrimidines: Cytosine, Thymine (DNA) and Uracil (RNA)

c. A – T/U (2 hydrogen bonds) and G – C (3 hydrogen bonds)

7. DNA Structure was discovered by Watson and Crick as well as Franklin and Wilkins.

8. DNA is a double stranded helical macromolecule that is held together by weak hydrogen

bonds.

9. Nucleotides --------> codons ---------> amino acids (20) ----------> proteins

10. The nucleotide sequence of the mRNA is interpreted in codons and the tRNA contains

the corresponding anticodons.

11. The genetic code is the three-nucleotide sequence that forms a codon, and each codon

specifies one amino acid.

How are genes and chromosomes related?

1. DNA wraps around histones (proteins that provides structural support) to form

nucleosomes, coils and then supercoils that form a chromosome.

2. In the nucleus the DNA molecule is packaged into thread-like structures called

chromosomes and chromatins would be the unwound DNA.

3. Structure:
4. Chromosomes consist of DNA, histones and other proteins which control gene

expression.

5. The nucleus of every human cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, 22 non-sex

(autosome) and 1 pair sex chromosome.

6. Mitochondria contain their own chromosomes because they are able to synthesis some of

their own proteins and replicate independently of the nucleus.