Table of contents

1. Introduction to Genetics51m
2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
8. DNA Replication1h 10m
9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
10. Transcription1h 0m
11. Translation58m
12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
14. Genetic Control of Development44m
15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
16. Transposable Elements47m
17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- Genetic Cloning
  9m
- Methods for Analyzing DNA
  9m
19. Cancer Genetics29m
- Overview of Cancer
  21m
- Cancer Mutations
  7m
20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
21. Population Genetics50m
- Hardy Weinberg
  19m
- Allelic Frequency Changes
  31m
22. Evolutionary Genetics29m

1. Introduction to Genetics

Fundamentals of Genetics

Genetics

1. Introduction to Genetics

Fundamentals of Genetics

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1:49 minutes

Problem 7

Textbook Question

How is genetic information encoded in a DNA molecule?

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Genetic information is encoded in a DNA molecule through the sequence of nitrogenous bases, which are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). These bases are arranged in specific sequences along the DNA strand.

The DNA molecule has a double-helix structure, where two strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs: adenine pairs with thymine (A-T) and cytosine pairs with guanine (C-G).

The sequence of bases in a DNA strand forms the genetic code, which is read in groups of three bases called codons. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid or a stop signal during protein synthesis.

The genetic code is universal and redundant, meaning that the same codon specifies the same amino acid in almost all organisms, and some amino acids are encoded by multiple codons.

The process of decoding genetic information involves transcription (where DNA is transcribed into mRNA) and translation (where mRNA is translated into a protein sequence based on the codons).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

DNA Structure

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a double helix composed of nucleotides, each containing a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The sequence of these bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine) encodes genetic information. The specific pairing of bases (A with T and C with G) allows for the stable storage and transmission of genetic data.

Genetic Code

The genetic code is a set of rules that defines how the sequence of nucleotides in DNA corresponds to the amino acids that make up proteins. It is organized into codons, which are groups of three nucleotides that specify a particular amino acid. This code is universal across nearly all organisms, highlighting the commonality of life at the molecular level.

Transcription and Translation

Transcription and translation are the two key processes through which genetic information is expressed. During transcription, the DNA sequence is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA), which then travels from the nucleus to the ribosome. In translation, the ribosome reads the mRNA sequence and assembles the corresponding amino acids into a polypeptide chain, ultimately forming a functional protein.

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Define genotype and phenotype. Describe how they are related and how alleles fit into your definitions.

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Contrast chromosomes and genes.

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Define the terms genotype and phenotype, and relate them to one another.

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Textbook Question

Define each of the following terms: