DNA and the Genome

• Where are chromosomes located within a cell?

  In the nucleus
• What molecule do chromosomes contain?

  DNA
• Why is DNA referred to as genetic material?

  It determines our inherited features
• How many strands does DNA consist of?

  Two
• What is each strand of DNA made of?

  Lots of smaller molecules
• What is the arrangement of the two DNA strands called?

  A double helix
• Where is DNA found in cells?

  In chromosomes
• What is a gene?

  A small section of DNA on a chromosome
• What does each gene encode for?

  A specific sequence of amino acids
• What do amino acids make when joined together?

  A specific protein
• How many genes does chromosome 9 have?

  Well over 700
• Why do both chromosomes in a pair have the same genes?

  Each chromosome codes for the same traits
• What is the genome?

  The entire genetic material of an organism
• What is the human genome?

  The entire genetic material that makes a human
• Has the entire human genome been studied by scientists?

  Yes
• What are the benefits of understanding the human genome?

  • Helps search for genes linked to diseases.
  • Helps understand and treat inherited disorders.
  • Can trace human migration patterns.
• How can understanding the human genome help in the treatment of inherited disorders?

  By understanding the cause of the disorder
• What is one inherited disorder that understanding the human genome can help to understand and treat?

  Cystic fibrosis
• What can scientists use the human genome to trace?

  Human migration patterns from the past
• What can tracing human migration patterns help people discover?

  Their ancestry
• What is each strand of DNA described as, in terms of its molecular structure?

  A polymer