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BIO015 Intro To Genes Unit 2: What Is The Genome Made Of?-OPEN University

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Open University

SK195_2
4 Hours 

Level
Introductory


Course Home (Click Here)

Course Description

Genomes are composed of DNA, and a knowledge of the structure of DNA is essential to understand how it can function as hereditary material. DNA is remarkable, breathtakingly simple in its structure yet capable of directing all the living processes in a cell, the production of new cells and the development of a fertilized egg to an individual adult.

DNA has three key properties: it is relatively stable; its structure suggests an obvious way in which the molecule can be duplicated, or replicated; and it carries a store of vital information that is used in the cell to produce proteins. The first two properties of DNA are analysed in this unit.

Learning Outcomes

After studying this unit you should understand:

  • the basic composition and structure of DNA;
  • what is meant by complementary DNA base pairing;
  • how base pairing allows a mechanism for DNA replication;
  • the number of DNA molecules within a chromosome.


 

Introduction

  • Introduction Resource
  • Genomes are composed of DNA, and a knowledge of the structure of DNA is essential to understand how it can function as hereditary material. DNA is remarkable, breathtakingly simple in its structure yet...

 

DNA and the genome

  • 1 The chemical structure of DNA Resource
  • This unit explores the chemical nature of the genome. Genomes are composed of DNA, and a knowledge of the structure of DNA is essential to understand how it can function as hereditary material. DNA is...
  • 2 How DNA is replicated Resource
  • Cell division involving the nuclear division of mitosis produces two progeny cells, which contain identical genetic material, which is also identical with that of the original parent cell. This is how...
  • 3 Chromosome structure and DNA replication Resource
  • DNA replication is closely linked to chromosome replication, which in turn is linked to cell division, which includes the nuclear division of mitosis. This raises an intriguing question: how many DNA molecules...

 

References and Acknowledgements

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Copyright 2007, by the Contributing Authors. Cite/attribute Resource. administrator. (2010, January 31). BIO015 Intro To Genes Unit 2: What Is The Genome Made Of?-OPEN University. Retrieved March 11, 2010, from Free University Courses OCW Courses OpenCourseWare Freeversity Foundation Web site: http://freeversity.org/science-and-mathematics/biology/bio015-intro-to-genes-unit-2-what-is-the-genome-made-of-open-university. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License Creative Commons License