5.

3 Understanding Genes
and Chromosomes

Structure of Chromosome
Chromosomes is
made up of a long
DNA
(deoxyribonuclei
acid) coiled around
protein molecules
(histones)
DNA molecule
contains thousands
of genes.

Structure of DNA
Structure of DNA
nucleotide

Structure of DNA
molecule

DNA structure
A DNA molecule consist of two
polynucleotide strands coiled
together to form a double helix

adenin
e

thymi
ne

cytosi
ne

guani
ne

The nitrogenous base is linked

by hydrogen bonds.

Application of Knowledge in Genetics to Mankind

Selective Breeding

Is used to produce
offspring that posses
desirable characteristics
of both parents.

Genetic Engineering
Also known as a
recombinant DNA
technology.
Alter characteristics of an
organism into its DNA.
Modified DNA is known as
recombinant DNA.
Organism with the
recombinant DNA is
known as genetically
modified organism (GMO)

cloning

Produces exact copies of the

cloned genes
Genes replicate within the same
species

Genetic engineering

Produces a totally uniques set of

genes
Genes can be swapped across
species

Gene
therapy

Production
of drugs

Genetic
engineerin
g

GM
organism

GM food

Gene therapyis the insertion,

alteration, or removal ofgenes
within an individual'scellsand
biological tissuesto treatdisease.
It is a technique for correcting
defective genes that are responsible
for disease development.
The most common form of gene
therapy involves the insertion of
functional genes into an unspecified
genomic location in order to replace
amutatedgene, but other forms
involve directly correcting the
mutation or modifying normal gene
that enables a viral infection.
Although the technology is still in its
infancy, it has been used with some
success

DNA fingerprinting (DNA profiling)

The chemical structure of everyone's DNA is the same.
The only difference between people (or any animal) is the order of the
base pairs.
There are so many millions of base pairs in each person's DNA thiouj at
every person has a different sequence.
Using these sequences, every person could be identified solely by the
sequence of their base pairs. However, because there are so many
millions of base pairs, the task would be very time-consuming. Instead,
scientists are able to use a shorter method, because of repeating
patterns in DNA.
These patterns do not, however, give an individual "fingerprint," but
they are able to determine whether two DNA samples are from the
same person, related people, or non-related people.
Scientists use a small number of sequences of DNA that are known to
vary among individuals a great deal, and analyze those to get a certain
probability of a match.

Exercise
1. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is made up of units called nucleotides. Every
unit of nucleotide is formed from a chain of deoxyribose sugar, a
nitrogenous base and a phosphate.
(a) Draw and label the structure of a nucleotide. Describe the
structure of the DNA
(b) there are four different types of nucleotides which have varied
nitrogenous bases. State the four types of nitrogenous bases.
(c) The DNA strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between
the pairs of bases. State the pairing of bases between the DNA
strands
(d) What is meant by genetic engineering
(e) Genetic engineering is applied in the medical field and agriculture.
State
three application of genetic engineering in the medical field

Diagram shows the pedigree of a family with

a genetic trait. Haemophilia is caused by
recessive allele on the chromosome. The
haemophilia trait is controlled by the recessive
allele.
(a) What is meant by sex-linked ?
(b) i. State the genotypes of J and P
ii. State all the possible genotypes of the
offspring of J and P
(c) What is the probability of J and P
producing haemophiliac children
(d) T marries female who is heterozygous
dominant for blood clotting. What is the
probability of their children being.
(i) haemophiliacs?
(ii) carriers of the diseases?
(iii) normal?
(iv) Draw the Punnet square to show the
genotype and phenotypes of their children
(e) More males get haemophilia compared to
females. Explain.

In a pea plant green pod (G) is dominant to yellow pod (g), while
inflated pod (C) is dominant to constricted pod (c). Pure
breeding plant with green and inflated pod is crossed with pure
breeding plants with yellow and constricted pods.
(a)(i) Explain the term pure breeding plants
(ii) Draw a genetic diagram to show this cross
(b) What is the phenotype shown by F1 plants
(c)The F1 plants self pollinated to produce the second filial
generation (F2)
(i) What is meant by self-pollination?
(ii) What are the gametes of the F1 plants
(iii) Draw a Punnett square to show the genotype of the F2
plants
(iv) What is the phenotypic ratio of F2 plants