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10 1.1 Genetics
Ch 1.1 Genetics
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Heredity | is the passing of traits to offspring from its parents or ancestor. |
| Cell | A cell is the smallest part of a living thing that can carry out all the processes of life - all life originates from previous life. |
| Cell membrane | A thin, flexible barrier around a cell that separates it from its surroundings; regulates what entrs and leaves the cell, thus giving the cell control over its processes. |
| Cytoplasm | it contains the cell contents and the organelles and is gel-like. |
| Nucleus | the centre of the cell that contains the genetic material of cell and separated from the remainder of the cell by a nuclear membrane |
| Prokaryotic cell | this type of cell is more primitive and does not contain a nucleus so its genetic material floats freely in the cytoplasm eg bacteria |
| Eukaryotic cell | composes all complex living things, it must contain a nucleus (with the genetic material of the cell segmented from the remainder of the cell by a nuclear membrane) |
| DNA | deoxyribonucleic acid - the double stranded helix that forms the basis of genes and chromosomes - determines the characteristics of organisms. The genetic blue-print. |
| Nucleotides | the basic units of DNA - contains a phosphate group, deoxyribose sugar and one of four Nitrogen rich bases. |
| Phosphate groups | bind with the deoxyribose sugars to form the spine of the DNA moleclule |
| Deoxyribose sugar | binds with one of the four Nitrogen rich bases (side-ways) and to the phosphate groups (along the double helix) |
| Nitrogen rich bases | adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G) and cytosine (C) |
| Complementary base pairing | adenine (A) can only bond with thymine (T), and guanine (G) can only bond with cytosine (C). A-T and G-C (Always Teach Good Classes) |
| Chromosomes | long thread-like structures composed of DNA and found only in the nucleus of the cell - 23 pairs are found in most cells of the body - the only exceptions are egg cells, sperm and red blood cells. |
| Genes | sections of a chromosome that code for particular proteins that lead to specific characteristics eg blue eyes or dark hair. It usually takes multiple genes to code for any given characteristic - so this is quite complex. |
| Replication | the process that copies both strands of exposed DNA resulting in two identical strands. |