DNA and GENOME

DNA
• The geneic code is ,made up of four letters that makes up
the DNA.
• DNA is present in the nuclei of all cells except RBC’s.
• One half of the DNA is present in sex cells i.e. sperm or ova.
• All other cells have complete copy of all DNA called
Genome.
• The entire set of the genetic material of an organism is
known as its genome
• Biologists now know the entire human genome (they have
worked out all the genes that are found in humans)
 Chromosomes and Genes
• The DNA that makes up one genome is extremely
thin and coiled up to be fit inside the nucleus.
• It is coiled into 23 pairs of structures called
Chromosomes.
• Since organism inherit half maternal and half
paternal DNA , chromosomes come in pair .
• These two copies of chromosomes are different
from each other so the genome is unique for
individual organism unless it is identical twins.
Genes are short lengths of DNA that code for a
protein. They are found on chromosomes
 GENOME
• Our Genome is made of almost 24000 genes.
• Gene is a short section of DNA (so a part of chromosome)
that controls a characterstic like eye colour .
• Each gene codes for a particular sequence of amino acids
• These sequences of amino acids form different types of
proteins
• It actually provides a code for protein synthesis.
• Genes control our characteristics as they code for
proteins that play important roles in what our cells do
• There are larger areas of your DNA that are not genes.
These are called non-coding regions or ‘junk’ DNA.
• It might be left over from common ancestors that have
evolved differently from us.
• The amount of non-coding DNA varies between species.
Almost all of our DNA is non-coding, at about 98%.
• Forensic scientists are able to detect tiny changes in
our non-coding DNA and use them to identify some
criminals from evidence taken at crime scenes. This
process is called DNA fingerprinting.
• There occurs very small difference in DNA
sequence of all our genes.
• The difference between us and our closest
relatives Chimpanjees is only 4%.
• Infact half of the DNA of our genes is common
with banana plant.
• These simlarities and differences provide
evidences for evolution.