Lesson 1 - Genes, Chromosomes and Alleles
Lesson Objectives
Content Objective: Distinguish between the different parts and forms of chromosomes and how alleles and genes have specific locations on eukaryotic chromosomes.
Language Objective: Define a chromosome, allele, gene, sister chromatid, sister chromosomes and chromatid.
Book Reference:
Syllabus Details:
A gene is a heritable factor that consists of a length of DNA and influences a specific characteristic
A gene occupies a specific position on a chromosomes
The various specific forms of a gene are alleles
Alleles differ from each other by one or only a few bases
New alleles are formed by mutation
The genome is the whole of the genetic information of an organism.
Eukaryote chromosomes are linear DNA molecules associated with histone proteins
Some prokaryotes also have plasmids but eukaryotes do not
Prokaryotes have one chromosome consisting of a circular DNA molecule
In a eukaryote species there are different chromosomes that carry different genes
The number of chromosomes is a characteristic feature of members of a species.
Homologous chromosomes carry the same sequence of genes but not the same alleles
Activites
Activity 2
Looking at Genes
Using GeneCards please lookup your assigned genes (see below) and collect data on the following:
1. Name and Function of the gene
2. Location on which chromosome (include a picture)
3. Size of gene (in bases)
4. Size of protein (in amino acid)
Please put the information on this table. CD4 has already been done for you.
Gene Choices
CD4
BRCA2
SLC18A2
ALB
ASPM
PCSK9
EPAS1
PRNP
FOXP2
AVPR1a
HAR1F
SRY
CRH
WT1-AS
ASPM
LEP
OSM
PIP
GAST