Nature of Genes and Chromosomes

The Nature of Genes and
Chromosomes
Prepared by: Genne Rose F. Selguera

&
Jeffrey Panes
Objectives:
• To define nucleic Acids
: DNA AND RNA
• To know the Structure and Replication of

DNA and RNA
• To know The Properties and Nature of

chromosomes
Introduction
Genes are the basic units of inheritance in nature. Genes are

passed down the generations in a predictable manner and we
receive roughly half of our genetic material from each parent.
This article explains the nature, structure and role of genes,
deoxyribonucleic acid and chromosomes, describes how
chromosomes determine gender, and touches on
chromosomal abnormalities. It is the first article in a four-part
series exploring the role of genes and chromosomes in
inheritance, health and disease.
NUCLEIC ACID TYPES OF NUCLEIC
ACID
• Nucleic Acid are polymers
that consist of nucleotide • Deoxyribonucleic acid
residues. (DNA)
• Located in nuclei of cell. • Ribonuclei acid (RNA)
• Hereditary determinants of
living organisms
• Elemental Composition-
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,
nitrogen and phosphorus
DEOXY RIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA)
• Every living organism contain
DNA
• First identified in 1868 by
Friedrich Meischer
• James Watson and Crick
described a simple double helix
structure in 1953
• Through series of experiments and
concluded that DNA is the genetic
material present in nucleus of cell
• Human DNA contains 3 million
deoxyribonucleotide residues and
contain 25000 genes
• Genes are strecth of DNA that
carries codes of protein production
DNA
• DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid.

It contains units of biological building
blocks called nucleotides.
• DNA is a vitally important molecule for
not only humans but also most other
organisms. DNA contains our
hereditary material and our genes, the
things that make us unique.
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)
• RNA is a ribonucleic acid
that helps in the synthesis
of proteins in our body.
This nucleic acid is
responsible for the
production of new cells in
the human body. It is
usually obtained from the
DNA molecule.
• RNA is also referred to as
an enzyme as it helps in
the process of chemical
reactions in the body.
TYPES OF RNA
• Transfer RNA (TRna) is a small Rna
molecule that plays a key role protein. It
serves as a link (or adaptor) between
messenger RNA mRNA molecule and the
growing chain of amino acids that make up
protein.
• Ribosomal Rna (Rrna) is the catalytic
component of ribosomes, in the cytplasm,
Rrnas and protein components combine to
form a nucleoprotein complex called
ribosome which binds mRna and synthesis
proteins(called translation)
• Messenger rna (mRna) is to carry protein
information from the DNA in a cells
nucleusto the cell cytplasm (watery
interior) where the protein reads mrna and
translates each three base codon into its
corresponding amino acid in growing
protein chain.
Structure and Replication of DNA
• DNA is made of two linked
strands that wind around
each other to resemble a
twisted ladder — a shape
known as a double helix.
• Replication of DNA
• DNA replication is the
process by which DNA
makes a copy of itself
during cell division.
Structure and Replication of Rna
• RNA resembles the same as that of DNA,
the only difference being that it has a single
strand unlike the DNA which has two
strands and it consists of an only single
ribose sugar molecule in it. Hence is the
name Ribonucleic acid.
• RNA replication is the process by which new

copies of genome-length RNAs are made
• RNA replication occurs in the cytoplasm and

is carried out by the viral RNA polymerase.
• The full length plus strand is coated with

nucleocapsid protein as it is made (mRNAs
are not coated with this protein, which would
interfere with the host protein translation
machinery).
The Properties and Nature of
chromosomes
Chromosomes
• Chromosomes are threadlike structures
made of protein and a single molecule of
DNA that serve to carry the genomic
information from cell to cell. In plants
and animals (including humans),
chromosomes reside in the nucleus of
cells.
• Walther Flemming discovered
chromosomes in 1875
• The term chromosomes was coined by

Waldeyer in 1888
• Term initiated as (chroma= colour and

Soma = body)
• The shape of chromosomes is generally

determined by the position of centomere
Somatic Cells
• The somatic chromosomes

number is the number of
chromosomes found in
somatic cell represented by
2n (diploid).
• The gametic chromosomes

number is half of the
somatic chromosome
number represented by n
(Haploid)
Two types of Chromosomes
• Autosomes: that control  Humans and most other

characters other than sex mammals have two sex
chromosomes X & Y also
characters or carry genes
called heterosome.
for somatic characters.
 Females have two X
• Sex chromosomes chomosomes in diploid
(Gonosomes)- cells; males have an X and
chromosomes that Y chromosomes.
involved in sex
determination.  In birds the female (ZW) is
hetero-gametic and male
(ZZ) is homo- gametic.
Chromosome abnormalities
Chromosome abnormalities can be numerical or structural. A numerical
abnormality mean an individual is either missing one of the chromosomes from a
pair or has more than two chromosomes instead of a pair. A structural
abnormality means the chromosome's structure has been altered in one of several
ways.
Two types of translocation
Reciprocal Translocation –
two different chromosomes
have exchanged segments
with each other.
Robertsonian Translocation
– an entire chromosomes
attaches to another at the
centromere.
Summary:
In summary, genes can be defined as segments of DNA that issue
instructions to the cells by these chemically coded ‘messages’ to make
a product (protein) that the cells can use. There may be hundreds, or
even thousands, of three-letter words in each gene message. DNA
replication initiates at specific points, called origins, where the DNA
double helix is unwound. A short segment of RNA, called a primer, is
then synthesized and acts as a starting point for new DNA synthesis.
An enzyme called DNA polymerase next begins replicating the DNA
by matching bases to the original strand. Chromosomes are the
structures that contain your genes and are within each cell. Each
chromosome is a long string of DNA containing hundreds of genes all
connected together. Cells contain 46 chromosomes arranged in 23
pairs. One of each pair of chromosomes comes from your mother and
one comes from your father.
References
• Finegold David 2021. Genes and chromosomes
www.msdmanuals.com/home/fundamentals/genetics/genes-and-chromosomes
• Royals Meenakshy 11-20-2017 slideshare.net/MeenakshyRoyals/nucleic-acid.
• 02-09-2014 www.slideshare.net/Himanshudev1/structure-of-dna-and-rna
• adnandinmohammed 10-082014.www.slideshare.net/adnandinmohammed/01adnan
• R. A. 2015, www.slideshare.net/rakhiadarsh/types-of-rna
• .slideshare.net/rakhiadarsh/types-of-rna
• genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Chromosome-Abnormalities-Fact-Sheet ( 08-15- 2020)
• DW) Biochemistry RNA Structure , Aisha Farhana.2022
• microbiologybook.org/mhunt/rna ( Richard Hunt 2015)
• Nih,gov.Illustrations/chromosomes
• chromosome-and-its-structure (AP,2017)
• Produced by the Centre for Genetics Education, 2019
• Powell –Hamilton (Dec. 2021) overview of chromosomal anomalies (Sep 2022)
• Ford Steve. nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/genetics/genes-and-chromosomes-1-basic-
principles-of-genetics 25-06-2018
• 2022, BYJU'S.biology/structure-of-rna

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Nature of Genes and Chromosomes

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The Nature of Genes and

Prepared by: Genne Rose F. Selguera

• To know the Structure and Replication of

• To know The Properties and Nature of

Genes are the basic units of inheritance in nature. Genes are

• DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid.

• RNA replication is the process by which new

• RNA replication occurs in the cytoplasm and

• The full length plus strand is coated with

• The term chromosomes was coined by

• Term initiated as (chroma= colour and

• The shape of chromosomes is generally

• The somatic chromosomes

• The gametic chromosomes

• Autosomes: that control  Humans and most other

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