UNIT OF INHERITANCE

AND
LOCATION OF GENES

5.3
GENE &
CHROMOSOMES

STRUCTURE
OF DNA
(DEOXYRIBON
UCLEIC ACID)

Backbone of DNA
molecule made up of
sugar molecules and
phosphate group.
The cross pieces or
rungs of the ladder are
nitrogenous bases.
Each rung is made up of
two bases joined
together
by
hydrogen
There are 4 types of
bonds.
bases:
Adenine, Cytosine,

A DNA
molecule
consists of
two strands
joined
together by
cross pieces,
like a ladder
twisted into a
spiral shape.

DNA
molecule
coiled inside
a
chromosome
.
It is wrapped
around
protein

Chromosome is
located in the nucleus
in each cell.

DNA molecule
consists of
millions of
found in two
chains of
polynucleotide
chains.
These
chains coil around one another
and form a double helix. The double
helix is held together by hydrogen
bonds between the pairs.
Adenine pairs with Thymine
Guanine pairs with Cytosine
This type of pairing is known as

TRAITS
MANIFESTED
FROM GENE

Genes contain the

instructions of genetic
code that control
manifestation or
development of inherited
characteristics such as eye
colour, hair
types
Genes
consists of a
short segment or length
of a DNA molecule.

Genes carry genetic

instruction in the form of a
sequences of
nitrognous
bases
found
in
Genes is coded using the
DNA.
letters, A, C, T and G.
Examples:
AAT (adenine, adenine,
thymine)
-Amino acid leucine
AGT (adenine, guanine,

IMPORTANCE OF
GENETIC RESEARCH
MANKIND
DNATO
fingerprinting
Human Genome Project
Stem Cell Research
Genetic engineering

DNA Fingerprinting
What?
A procedure which analyses a
persons unique collection of
DNA segments
For?
Helps police in investigations
Help forensic scientists to
examine DNA from tissue
samples of hair, saliva, blood or
semen

DNA Fingerprinting

DNA Fingerprinting

Functions of DNA fingerprinting

1) Helps in investigation
- DNA of hair, saliva, blood, semen
found at scene of crime can be
extracted and compared to the
suspects DNA.
2) a more useful tool in identifying
blood groups because too many ppl
share the same blood group

Functions of DNA fingerprinting

3) used in screening of genetic
disorder and tracking genes
responsible for causing certain
diseases

Human Genome Project

Refers to the complete set

of genes on the
chromosomes of a human
cell.
HGP is an international
research programme
launched in 1988

Human Genome Project

Aims:
a) identify the names and
location
of all the human genes on
the
22 pairs of autosomes and
the X
and Y chromosomes
b) to determine the sequence

Human Genome Project

Aims:

c) mapping human genome for

the
benefits in medical
fieldmedicine
Examples: Huntingtons disease
Cystic fibrosis
Skin, ovarian, breast
cancer

Stem Cell Research

Stem cell

A special cell with unique

ability to reproduce itself
over long periods
Two types of stem cells
a) embryonic stem cells
b) adult stem cells

Stem Cell Research

(a) Embryonic stem cell
Ways to obtain:
a) isolate from embryo at the
early
blastocyst stage
b) obtain from foetal tissue
from terminated
pregnancy

Stem Cell Research

(a) Embryonic stem cell
At early stage, these cells can
develop and give rise to different
specialised cells.
When cultured in lab in the presence
of growth nutrients, they can
differentiate into specialised tissue

Stem Cell Research

(b) Adult stem cell
Cells present in adult tissues that
generate the replacement of nondividing, differentiated cell.
Example: stem cell in bone marrow
generate different types of bone/
cartilage/ connective tissue

Stem Cell Research

Adult stem cell
are found in tissues in the
brain, skeletal muscle, liver
and blood vessel

Genetic engineering
technique of gene
manipulation to create
new combination of
genes

Genetic engineering
involves transfer of gene on
the DNA molecule from one
living organism onto the DNA
molecule of another organism
It is referred to as transgenic

organism
Is used in the fields of
medicine and agriculture

Genetic engineering
In medicine, used to treat

genetic disorder
Involves the insertion of
genetic material into a patient
Patient is given a healthy
gene
to replace the faulty gene

Genetic engineering

Genetic engineering
Can be used to genetically

modify organisms
Organisms that have acquired one
or more genes by artificial means
- genetically modified
organisms
Organism that acquired genes by
artificial means from other species
- transgenic organism

Genetic engineering
Plants have been genetically

modified to
improve their flavours
improve their resistence towards
diseases
improve food production
Animals have been genetically

modified to
increase quantity and quality of

Genetic engineering
Food that are genetically

modified are called genetically

modified (GM) food
Examples: wheat, maize,

tomato, soya bean, eggs,

groundnut

GM
organism

Purpose of GM

Maize
Reduce insect damage
Soya bean Increase weed control
carnation
Produce different
flower varieties
rice
Increase nutritional
value
sheep,cow Increase value of milk
Tilapia fish Increase growth rate

Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering made

it possible to produce large

quantities of safer drugs
and vaccines for human
and animals
Example of drug: insulin

Advantages of Genetic
ProductionEngineering
of GM organisms which

mature in a shorter time and produce

higher yields which is richer in nutrients
Production of shorter strains of
organisms which are resistant to pests,
pesticides and diseases.
Production of medicines/vaccines and
pharmaceutical products for treatment
of diseases
Help solving pollution problems, e.g
genetically engineered bacteria to
clean oil spills

Disadvantages of Genetic
Bring concern
of harmful effects of GM
Engineering

food on health over long period of time.

Side effect of GM food is still unknown
May cause extinction of organism of
original species which has to compete
with the genetically produced ones.
New genes introduced might bring side
effect such as mutation or cancer
Cause accident release of harmful
pathogen to the environment
May cause disturbance to the natural
equilibrium of an ecosystem due to
colonisation of transgenic crops of