Inheritance

LO: To describe the structure of DNA.

 Chromosomes and DNA

• Our genes are on

our
chromosomes.
• Chromosomes
are made up of a
chemical called
DNA.
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 Genes, Chromosomes and DNA
Cell membrane

A single
cytoplasm
chromosome

nucleus
A pair of
chromosomes
Animal cell (one from each
parent)

The nucleus of human cells (except gametes)

contain:
23 pairs of chromosomes
 Nucleosome
• The basic unit of structure of Chromosome
• Two loops of DNA surrounding 8 histone
molecule i.e. Protein
• Chromosome =DNA+Histone
• DNA = Chromosome – histone
• All genes are DNA But all DNA are not
genes
 A chromosome

A gene = a short
section of the
chromosome

The centromere

One arm = a chromatid

 The Shape of the Molecule

• DNA is a very long

polymer.
• The basic shape is
like a twisted ladder
or zipper.
• This is called a
double helix.
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 A gene
DNA molecule =
DOUBLE HELIX

Cross sections made up

of Base Pairs
The DNA is
coiled to form the
arms of the
chromosome
 The Double Helix Molecule
• The DNA
double helix
has two
strands
twisted
together.

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 One Strand of DNA
• The backbone of phosphate

the molecule is
alternating
phosphates and deoxyribose
deoxyribose
sugar
• The teeth are
nitrogenous
bases
bases.
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 One Strand of DNA
nucleotide
• One strand of DNA
is a polymer of
nucleotides.
• One strand of DNA
has many millions
of nucleotides.

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 Four nitrogenous bases

DNA has four different bases:

• Cytosine C
• Thymine T
• Adenine A
• Guanine G

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 Purine and pyrmidine
• Purines and Pyrimidines are nitrogenous
bases that make up the two different kinds
of nucleotide bases in DNA and RNA. The
two-carbon nitrogen ring bases (adenine
and guanine) are purines, while the one-
carbon nitrogen ring bases (thymine and
cytosine) are pyrimidines.
 Two Stranded DNA
• Remember, DNA
has two strands
that fit together
something like a
zipper.
• The teeth are the
nitrogenous
bases but why
do they stick
together?
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 We all have 23 pairs of
chromosomes in every nucleus (46
chromosomes).

Each chromosome comes from

the biological parent. – Each of
your parents provides you with
half of your genetic
information!!!!
A Chromosome can be divided up into small sections called GENES.
Different sections of the chromosome control different parts of the body such as hair
type and colour, body height, eye colour etc.
What is a chromosome made of???

The GENE
controlling eye
colour.
 D.N.A IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT MOLECULE
IN YOUR BODY

You have around 9 million kilometres of

D.N.A in your body.

Around 99.1% of our genes or information are in

common with the Chimpanzee!!!
 Its Uses
• Identification of remains
• FORENSICS – Help provide evidence
to solve crimes and prosecute
criminals.
• PATERNITY TESTS – Identifies
biological parents. Think of the
‘Jeremy Kyle’ show.
• GENETIC DISEASES – Identification
of parents DNA can show any
potential diseases their children may
develop.
• STATE AT LEAST 4 FACTS ABOUT
D.N.A
• EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCES IN
CHROMOSOMES BETWEEN
MALES AND FEMALES
• STATE THE ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES OF GENETIC
FINGERPRINTING.