what is a gene? describe the function, structure, and location within the cell. course hero

by Ms. Elisa Adams 6 min read

Where are genetic instructions stored in the cell?

These instructions are stored inside each of your cells, distributed among 46 long structures called chromosomes. These chromosomes are made up of thousands of shorter segments of DNA, called genes. Each gene stores the directions for making protein fragments, whole proteins, or multiple specific proteins.

What is the biological function of DNA?

The Biological function of DNA 1 DNA polymers direct the production of other polymers called proteins. A protein is one or more polymers of monomers called amino acids. ... 2 A chromosome consists of smaller segments called genes. ... 3 Each gene is further divided into three nucleotide subsegments called codons. ...

What is the information molecule in DNA?

DNA is the information molecule. It stores instructions for making other large molecules, called proteins. These instructions are stored inside each of your cells, distributed among 46 long structures called chromosomes. These chromosomes are made up of thousands of shorter segments of DNA, called genes.

What part of the cell stores instructions for making proteins?

It stores instructions for making other large molecules, called proteins. These instructions are stored inside each of your cells, distributed among 46 long structures called chromosomes. These chromosomes are made up of thousands of shorter segments of DNA, called genes.

What is a gene describe the function structure and location within the cell?

Genes are segments of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that contain the code for a specific protein that functions in one or more types of cells in the body. Chromosomes are structures within cells that contain a person's genes. Genes are contained in chromosomes, which are in the cell nucleus.

What are the 3 stop codons?

Definition. A stop codon is a sequence of three nucleotides (a trinucleotide) in DNA or messenger RNA (mRNA) that signals a halt to protein synthesis in the cell. There are 64 different trinucleotide codons: 61 specify amino acids and 3 are stop codons (i.e., UAA, UAG and UGA).

What codon means start?

codon AUGThe codon AUG is called the START codon as it the first codon in the transcribed mRNA that undergoes translation. AUG is the most common START codon and it codes for the amino acid methionine (Met) in eukaryotes and formyl methionine (fMet) in prokaryotes.

What is this gene?

A gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity. Genes are made up of DNA. Some genes act as instructions to make molecules called proteins. However, many genes do not code for proteins. In humans, genes vary in size from a few hundred DNA bases to more than 2 million bases.

What is DNA code?

The DNA code is really the 'language of life. ' It contains the instructions for making a living thing. The DNA code is made up of a simple alphabet consisting of only four 'letters' and 64 three-letter 'words' called codons.

What is protein synthesis?

Protein synthesis is the process in which cells make proteins. It occurs in two stages: transcription and translation. Transcription is the transfer of genetic instructions in DNA to mRNA in the nucleus. It includes three steps: initiation, elongation, and termination.

How are the right amino acids added in the right sequence to match the codon in the mRNA?

Only the tRNA carrying the next amino acid in the polypeptide chain has the anticodon that binds to the appropriate location on the mRNA. This system ensures that amino acids are added to the chain in the correct order.

How do you write a DNA sequence from mRNA?

DNA utilizes four bases, adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T), in its code. RNA also uses four bases. However, instead of using 'T' as DNA does, it uses uracil (U). Therefore, if your DNA sequence is 3' T C G T T C A G T 5', the mRNA sequence would be 5' A G C A A G U C A 3'.

How to understand the biological function of DNA?

The molecular structure of DNA. In order to understand the biological function of DNA, you first need to understand its molecular structure. This requires learning the vocabulary for talking about the building blocks of DNA, and how these building blocks are assembled to make DNA molecules.

Why is DNA a good biological molecule?

DNA is well-suited to perform this biological function because of its molecular structure, and because of the development of a series of high performance enzymes that are fine-tuned to interact with this molecular structure in specific ways . The match between DNA structure and the activities of these enzymes is so effective and well-refined that DNA has become, over evolutionary time, the universal information-storage molecule for all forms of life. Nature has yet to find a better solution than DNA for storing, expressing, and passing along instructions for making proteins.

What is the name of the bond between atoms in DNA?

The nucleotide monomers in a DNA polymer are connected by strong electromagnetic attractions called phosphodiester bonds. Phosphodiester bonds are part of a larger class of electromagnetic attractions between atoms that chemists refer to as covalent bonds.

How many letters are in the DNA alphabet?

The English language has a 26 letter alphabet. In contrast, the DNA “alphabet” has only four “letters,” the four nucleotide monomers. They have short and easy to remember names: A, C, T, G. Each nucleotide monomer is built from three simple molecular parts: a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nucleobase.

How does dehydration synthesis work?

Each time nucleotides are bound together, a water molecule is removed (or “lost”) through a process called dehydration synthesis. Many molecules rely on dehydration synthesis to assist with forming polymers. A diagram showing how dehydration synthesis is used to make a string of DNA.

Which direction does DNA run in?

One strand runs in a 3' to 5' direction while the other runs in a 5' to 3' direction . The nucleotides forming each DNA strand are connected by noncovalent bonds, called hydrogen bonds. Considered individually, hydrogen bonds are much weaker than a single covalent bond, such as a phosphodiester bond.

What is the information molecule that stores instructions for making other large molecules called?

DNA is the information molecule. It stores instructions for making other large molecules, called proteins . These instructions are stored inside each of your cells, distributed among 46 long structures called chromosomes. These chromosomes are made up of thousands of shorter segments of DNA, called genes.

What is the protein coat of a virus that infects a bacterium?

If the protein coat of a virus that infects a bacterium is labeled with radioactive sulfur and the DNA of the virus is labeled with radio active phosphorus, over time. only the phosphorus will be found inside the bacterium.

Which cell would specialize in producing insulin?

A cell of the pancreas would specialize in producing insulin, among other functions, while a muscle cell would specialize in the production of the protein myosin, this means that. A) Pancreas and muscle cells have the genes for both insulin and myosin active.

Where is radioactively labeled protein found?

A) Radioactively labeled protein was found in the bacteria, not in the virus coats.

Which part of the bone contains osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteochondral progenitor?

Periosteum covers the outer surface of a bone and it contains osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteochondral progenitor cells. Endosteum lines the internal surfaces of all cavities within bones and contains osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteochondral progenitor cells.

What is the name of the cell that produces a matrix surrounding themselves?

consists of specialized cells called chrondroblasts that produce a matrix surrounding themselves

What is the major component of cartilage?

Chondroblasts create the major component, the extracellular matrix, of the cartilage.

What are the interconnecting rods or plates in spongy bone, which bear weight and help bones resist?

Trabeculae are interconnecting rods or plates in spongy bone, which bear weight and help bones resist bending and twisting.

Which bone has collagen fibers that lie parallel to each other?

Lamellar bone: the collagen fibers lie parallel to one another, but at an angle to the collagen fibers in the adjacent lamellae. A mature bone

What is the layer of cartilage called?

The perichondrium (from Greek περί (peri 'around') and χόνδρος (chondros 'cartilage')) is a layer of dense irregular connective tissue that surrounds the cartilage of developing bone. It consists of two separate layers: an outer fibrous layer and inner chondrogenic layer.