DNA and Gene Expression

DNA and Gene Expression
OBJECTIVES
at the end of the lesson, the students
should be able to:
a. Identify the bases in the DNA
b. List the pieces of evidence that

established DNA as the hereditary material.
c. Define DNA in your own words

DNA
 Deoxyribonucleic Acid
 Double helix
 Carries genetic information
 Located in the nucleus
 The monomer is a
nucleotide
– A phosphate
– A ribose sugar
– A nitrogenous base
What are the bases in DNA
 A – adenine
 T – thymine
 C – cytosine
 G – guanine
 Base pair rules
Where is DNA located in the Cell?
Where are the genes located?
 Genes are located on

the chromosomes.
 Every species has a
different number of
chromosomes.
 There are two types
of chromosomes:
autosomes and sex
chromosomes
 Genes are located on the chromosomes
which are found in the nucleus of a cell.
 When a cell is undergoing cell
reproduction, the chromosomes are
visible. Chromosomes appear when the
chromatin condenses and become visible.
 Most of the time (90%) the genetic
material in the form of chromatin.
 A genome is the complete genetic
information contained in an individual.
– (gene + chromosome)
What is gene expression?
Gene expression is the
activation of a gene
that results in a
protein.
Gene expression takes place differently
in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
What is a prokaryotes? Eukaryotes?
 Prokaryotes
 Eukaryotes
– No membrane bound – Membrane bound organelles (
organelles (nucleus) specialize in function –
nucleus, mitochondria,
– More primitive organisms
chloroplast)
– Only one circular
– Chromosomes are in pairs
chromosome
and not circular
– Bacteria are the only
– All organisms that are not
organisms that are
bacteria: protist, fungi, plants
prokaryotes.
and animals
 In Eukaryotes, following mitosis or meiosis, DNA
recoils but certain regions remain relaxed for
transcription. The areas of relaxed DNA are called
euchromatin.
 Transcription is the
Reading of the DNA and
Changing the code to
mRNA.
 Translation is changing
The mRNA into a trait by
Using tRNA to interpret the
mRNA.
 DNA in eukaryotes has regions of coding and
noncoding DNA. The regions of DNA that code
for proteins or traits are called EXONS, while
the regions that do not code for proteins are
called INTRONS.
cytoplasm
cytoplasm
 In prokayotes, transcription and
translation occur in the cytoplasm.
 In eukaryotes, transcription occurs inside
the nucleus in a two step sequence of
events.
– Pre-mRNA includes both introns and exons for
the gene.
– mRNA is only the coding portion (exons).
 Translation occurs in the cytoplasm at the
ribosomes.
– Reminder: The are three (3) types of RNA
 Messenager (mRNA)
 Transfer (tRNA)
 Ribsomal (rRNA)
Translation
 RNA
– Single stranded
– Does not contain thymine
but has uracil instead.
 tRNA carries 3 base pair
code for specific amino
acid.
 Amino acids compose
polypeptid chains.
 One or more polypeptide
chains compose a
protein
 proteins provide the
“blueprints” for our
characteristics and
functions.
 In Prokaryotes there are three (3)
regulatory elements that control gene
expression.
1. Structural genes – genes that code for a

specific polypeptide (protein).
2. Promoter – DNA segment that recognizes
RNA polymerase.
3. Operator – element that serves as a binding
site for an inhibitor protein that blocks
transcription.
Enhancer Control
 Eukaryote genes on a
DNA strand also have
noncoding control
sequences that
facilitate transcription.
 These are called
enhancers.
 Transcription factors
are additional proteins
that bind to RNA
polymerase and
enhancers to help with
transcription.
Cell Differentiation
 Cell differentiation is the development
of cells into cells with specialized
functions.
– Examples: muscle cells, liver cell, red blood
cells
 As organisms grow and develop, organs
and tissues develop to produce a
characteristic form. The process is call
morphogenesis.
Homeotic Genes
 Homeotic genes are regulatory
genes that determine where
certain anatomical structures,
such as appendages, will
develop in an organism during
morphogenesis.
 These seem to be the master
genes of development
Normal Mutant with legs

growing out of head
Homeobox
 In Drosophila (fruit flies)
the specific DNA sequence
within a homeotic gene
that regulates patterns of
development is the
homeobox.
 The same or very similar
homeobox sequences have
been found in many other
eukaryotic organisms
Cancer
 Leading cause of death in the United
States
 A genetic disease caused by a mutation in
the genes that control cell division
 Tumor – abnormal proliferation of cells
that results from uncontrolled, abnormal
cell division
 Benign – a tumor that remains within a mass
 Malignant tumor- uncontrolled dividing cells
that invade and destroy healthy tissue
elsewhere in the body
 Metastasis – spread of cancer cells beyond
their original site
Kinds of Cancer
 Carcinomas – grow in skin and tissues that
line the organs of the body
– Example: lung and breast
 Sarcomas – grow in bone and muscle
tissue
 Lymphomas – solid tumors that grow in
tissues that form blood cells
– Example: leukemia
 In normal cells, that frequency of cell
division is governed by several
factors:
1. Adequate nutrition
2. Attachment to other cells,
membranes or fibers
3. Division stops if cell become crowded
(usually after 20 – 50) divisions
 Cancer cell continue dividing and

ignore the normal messages to stop
dividing.
What Causes Cancer?
 Mutations that alter the genes coding
for growth factors.
May occur spontaneously
Result from exposure to an carcinogen
( any substance that increases the risk of
cancer.)
 Usually there is more than one
mutation.
 There are two types of genes that
control cell division
Proto-oncogens
Tumor suppressing genes (p53 gene)

DNA and Gene Expression - G10 (Luke)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

DNA and Gene Expression - G10 (Luke)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

DNA and Gene Expression - G10 (Luke)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

b. List the pieces of evidence that

c. Define DNA in your own words

 Genes are located on

1. Structural genes – genes that code for a

Normal Mutant with legs

 Cancer cell continue dividing and

You might also like