Genetic Information

Genes control all aspects of life

Physiology

Biochemistry

Morphology

Behaviour

Developmental patterns

Chromosomes are made of DNA and protein

Chromosome structure

Ploidy - chromosomes

Most eukaryotic cells have two sets of chromosomes

Each set originates from either parent

Body cells (somatic) are therefore termed diploid

Sex cells have ONE set of chromosomes and are called haploid

Chromosome Number

Nucleotides building blocks of DNA

There are 4 types of nucleotide monomers

Purines & Pyrimidines (nucleotides)

DNA consists of TWO polymers

Base pairing rules

Chromosome fine structure

Each chromosome consists of 2 DNA strands or molecules

Each nucleotide is linked to its neighbour via a phosphodiester linkage

The two strands are linked through hydrogen bonds