Genes are the building blocks of heredity and play a big role in deciding how living things look and act.
Genes are made up of sequences called nucleotides. They group together to form structures known as chromosomes.
Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, which means a total of 46 chromosomes. We have around 20,000 to 25,000 genes in our genetic makeup, or genome. Each gene is located in a specific spot on a chromosome, and differences in these genes can lead to unique traits in each person.
Making Proteins: Genes give instructions to make proteins. Proteins are super important because they help build and control our body's tissues and organs. About 85% of human genes are responsible for making proteins.
Controlling Expression: Genes also help decide when and how much protein gets made. They do this by using helpers called transcription factors that affect how genes are read, which can change how traits develop.
Passing Down Traits: We inherit traits from our parents according to a system called Mendelian genetics. For example, certain traits, like eye color and blood type, depend on dominant and recessive genes. If one parent has a dominant gene, there’s a 75% chance the child will inherit that trait.
People have different traits because of variations in their genes. These variations, called alleles, can come from small changes called mutations in the DNA sequence. On average, each person has about 60 to 100 new mutations that might affect their traits.
Chromosomes are tightly packed structures made of DNA wrapped around proteins called histones. This organization is really important. During cell division, chromosomes must copy themselves and separate correctly so that new cells get the right genes. Mistakes in this process can lead to genetic disorders, like Down syndrome, which happens when there is an extra copy of chromosome 21.
Genes are super important in shaping traits and characteristics. They help make proteins, control how genes work, and pass down traits from parents to children. Studying genetics helps us understand how traits get passed through generations and why living things can look so different from each other. This knowledge is key in areas like medicine, farming, and understanding evolution. Learning about genes and chromosomes is essential to grasping the mysteries of life and is important for both science and technology.
Genes are the building blocks of heredity and play a big role in deciding how living things look and act.
Genes are made up of sequences called nucleotides. They group together to form structures known as chromosomes.
Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, which means a total of 46 chromosomes. We have around 20,000 to 25,000 genes in our genetic makeup, or genome. Each gene is located in a specific spot on a chromosome, and differences in these genes can lead to unique traits in each person.
Making Proteins: Genes give instructions to make proteins. Proteins are super important because they help build and control our body's tissues and organs. About 85% of human genes are responsible for making proteins.
Controlling Expression: Genes also help decide when and how much protein gets made. They do this by using helpers called transcription factors that affect how genes are read, which can change how traits develop.
Passing Down Traits: We inherit traits from our parents according to a system called Mendelian genetics. For example, certain traits, like eye color and blood type, depend on dominant and recessive genes. If one parent has a dominant gene, there’s a 75% chance the child will inherit that trait.
People have different traits because of variations in their genes. These variations, called alleles, can come from small changes called mutations in the DNA sequence. On average, each person has about 60 to 100 new mutations that might affect their traits.
Chromosomes are tightly packed structures made of DNA wrapped around proteins called histones. This organization is really important. During cell division, chromosomes must copy themselves and separate correctly so that new cells get the right genes. Mistakes in this process can lead to genetic disorders, like Down syndrome, which happens when there is an extra copy of chromosome 21.
Genes are super important in shaping traits and characteristics. They help make proteins, control how genes work, and pass down traits from parents to children. Studying genetics helps us understand how traits get passed through generations and why living things can look so different from each other. This knowledge is key in areas like medicine, farming, and understanding evolution. Learning about genes and chromosomes is essential to grasping the mysteries of life and is important for both science and technology.