Sunday, 5 June 2011

What is a gene?

The DNA double helix stores information in the form of a genetic code. Sections of DNA that contain complete messages are known as genes. They can be thought of as 'words' along the DNA 'sentences'.

Genes are messages that provide the information for all cellular functions. They carry information that is passed on to future generations.

An organism's genes determine:
  • the characteristics that are used to classify it into the plant or animal kingdom and into a specific family and species
  • how it uses food
  • how well it fights infection
  • at times, how it behaves.
Each human cell (except red blood cells) contains between 25,000 and 42,000 genes. Genes control the production of proteins that make up most of your body.

Genes code for proteins:
Genes contain the coded formula needed by the cell to produce proteins. Proteins are the most common of the complex molecules in your body. Types of proteins include:
  • structural proteins, such as those which form hair, skin and muscle
  • messenger proteins, such as hormones, which travel around your body controlling such things as the sugar content of your blood
  • enzymes, which carry out most of the life processes inside your body, for example making haemoglobin for your red blood cells.

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