Introduction
Genes are a series of Nucleotides in RNA and DNA. Genes are regarded as the unit of heredity which is responsible for carrying characteristics and traits from parents to children. The genes are DNA fragments known as Deoxyribonucleic Acid. The body is made up of many cells that have structures called chromosomes. The genes are constrained within the chromosomes which lie within the nucleus of the cell. The chromosome is made up of thousands and thousands of genes.
Chromosomes
The chromosomes appear in thread-like structures which are present within the cells of plants and animals. The chromosome consists of the protein and the DNA. The structure of chromosomes has the capability of tightly wrapping the DNA in the cell as, without the wrapping, the DNA is too lengthy for fitting within the cell. The human cell comprises 23 pairs of chromosomes, thus making a total of 46 chromosomes.
The proteins are the building block of the body and they are also responsible for producing enzymes. The enzymes are responsible for carrying out various functions as well as chemical reactions in the body. The body function depends largely on the type and amount of protein that the body is capable of synthesizing. This is why genes play a crucial role in the process of protein synthesis and the genes are also present in the chromosomes.
Chemical Structure of the Genes
All organisms are made up of DNA except for some viruses that are made of RNA - Ribonucleic Acid. The DNA looks like a twisted ladder that is composed of nucleotides. The sides of the ladder are made using Phosphates and Sugars and the horizontal steps of the ladder called rungs are made up of pairs of nitrogenous bases. These bases are called Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Thymine (T), and Guanine (G). The Adenine is on one of the sides of the ladder bind and Thymine is at the other side of the ladder thus forming the A-T ladder rung.
The Function of the Genes
The genes are needed for the synthesis of the proteins. Beyond that, the genes also perform various other functions. The genes that do not participate in the synthesis of protein are formed in the RNA. The micro RNA that does not undergo protein formation assists in gene regulation. Some of the major functions that are provided by the genes include transcription, translation, gene expression, and replication and mutation.
FAQs on Gene Definition
1. What is the process of genetic inheritance?
The genetic material gets passed from parents to the offspring in the shape of the DNA. All organisms undergo the process of reproduction and growth. The information needed for the reproduction as well as the survival of the organisms is essentially encoded within the DNA and is passed from one generation to another. This is fundamentally how the process of genetic inheritance takes place.
2. What is the significance of genes?
The genes are a unit of heredity in any of the living organisms such as animals, plants, fungi, bacteria etc. Each cell of the body gets subjected to growth and replication. The genes contain the information which is needed for building, maintaining, and multiplying the cells. The reason we exhibit specific habits, physical appearances, and diseases from parents is due to these genes that are responsible for the passing of genetic information from the parents to offspring.
3. What are the genetic tests used for?
In modern times, genetic tests are used for diagnosing specific disorders such as Turners syndrome, Kidney disease, Polycystic, Cystic Fibrosis, and Sickle cell anaemia. Genetic tests are also very helpful for the prediction of a disease that a person is likely to suffer from. With the advancement in technology, the defects in genes can be corrected using gene therapy. Besides this, some specific diseases can be avoided that occur in individuals.
4. What are the different types of DNA mutations?
The mutation is essentially a permanent alteration of the sequence of DNA which makes up the genes. There are three primary types of DNA mutations. These are Base substitutions, Deletions, and insertions. Some of the types of gene mutations might lead to illnesses or genetic disorders. The gene mutation is caused by a change in the nucleotides of the DNA, a change in the genes, loss of genes, or rearrangement of the whole chromosomes or genes.
5. How can I download the Vedantu notes on “Gene definition”?
If you want to download the Vedantu notes on “Gene definition” then it is available to download for free on the Vedantu website or app. These notes are provided in PDF file format. For downloading the file you need to visit the relevant page and then click on the “Download PDF” button provided at the top of the page. This will download the notes on gene definition on your device for offline use.
6. What are the Functions of Genes?
There are two main functions of DNA
It passes the genetic material from parents to off springs.
It also plays an important role in the synthesis of proteins.
7. What is Genetic Inheritance?
The genetic material is passed on from parents to offsprings in the form of DNA. All the organisms undergo the process of growth and reproduction. The information that is required for the reproduction and survival of these organisms is encoded in the DNA that is passed on from one generation to another. This is how the Genetic inheritance takes place.
