DNA Structure and Genetic Information
The study of inheritance, variation and evolution exam questions often focuses on DNA deoxyribonucleicacid, located in cell nuclei as chromosome pairs. DNA's distinctive double helix structure contains genes, which are specific sequences coding for protein production.
Vocabulary: A genome represents an organism's complete set of genetic material, including all genes and DNA sequences.
Understanding genomes has revolutionized medicine by helping scientists identify disease-linked genes and develop targeted treatments. The structure of DNA consists of nucleotide units, each containing a phosphate group, sugar, and one of four bases A,T,C,G.
Base pairing follows specific rules, with A always pairing with T, and C with G. This complementary base pairing ensures accurate genetic information transfer during cell division and reproduction.