Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 14

Molecular Genetics

School of Medicine Doc I


Academic year: 2016 - 2017
Leon Mutesa, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Human Genetics

1
Chap 1. The basics of DNA

2
Background

•  Molecular genetics is concerned with interrelationship between the


information

DNA (gene)→ RNA→ PROTEINS


•  In all cells genetic information is stored in DNA molecules

3
•  Genes are the units of heredity and are the Introduction
instructions. They code for the proteins that
determine virtually all of a person's
characteristics.

•  Humans have an estimated 20000 - 30000


genes.

•  Most genes come in pairs and are made of


strands of genetic material called
deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA.
•  Genetic disorders are caused by one or
more changes, or mutations, in the
instruction code of a particular gene(s),
preventing the gene(s) from functioning
properly.
•  Molecular genetics is the study of human
variation that is carried in the genes.
•  The physical location of a gene is its locus.
Different versions of genes are called alleles.
For example, an eye color gene may have a
blue allele and a brown allele.
•  Genes are organized in structures called
chromosomes. 4
DNA Structure

•  DNA molecule is a double


helix, composed of 3 main parts:
- 5 carbon sugar (deoxyribose)
-  Phosphate molecule
-  One of 4 nucleotides (bases)
Adenine (A)
Guanine (G)
Cytosine (C)
Thymine (T)

5
6
DNA Structure...

•  DNA molecule is an
antiparallel double helix
-  DNA single strand consists of
alternating sugar residues and
phosphate groups
-  5 → 3 direction


7

A=T

Watson & Crick in 1953 discovered DNA
double helix G≡C

8
Sense and antisense DNA strands with complementary sequences
5 3

9
3 5
10
Chemical properties of DNA:
Single stranded DNA
molecules that result from
denaturated can reassociate
into a double helix

11
12
In Summary

13
THANK YOU

11

Вам также может понравиться