MOLECULAR BASIS OF HEREDITY

HEREDITY
 HEREDITY

The process of passing on of

hereditary characters from parenting
to offspring
Ex” skin color, height, nose shape and
other physical characteristics
HEREDITY CAN BE INFLUENCED BY
YOUR ENVIRONMENT
 HEREDITY

• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) has

been recognized as responsible for
the inheritance of characteristics
from parents to offspring
• Hereditary information is passed
from generation to generation via
units called genes
• Each individual has 2 copies of each
gene, one inherited from each parent
 GENETICS

The study of heredity and the variation

of inherited characteristics in
organisms
 CHROMOSOMES

• Organized structures
located in the nucleus of
cells. They carry
information essential to
cellular functions such as
cell division and cell
differentiation
CHROMOSOME STRUCTURE
CHROMOSOME STRUCTURE
CHROMOSOME STRUCTURE
CHROMOSOME STRUCTURE
 Common Name Species Diploid Number

Bacterium Escherichia coli 1

Corn Zea mays 20

Fruit fly Drosophilia melanogaster 8

Human Homo sapiens 46

Pea plant Pisum sativum 14

Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae 32

DNA STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
 DNA

• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) a

nucleic acid that contains the genetic
information for the development and
function of organisms
• It’s basic unit is called a nucleotide
with the following components:
• A five-carbon sugar called deoxyribose
• A phosphate group
• A nitrogen-containing base
GENE STRUCTURE
 GENE STRUCTURE

• A gene is responsible for the

inheritance of specific characters of
organisms
• DNA is the molecule that make up
the genes
• A gene is a sequence of DNA
nucleotides that controls the
production of enzymes in cells
• Enzymes are complex proteins that
control nearly all chemical processes
in cells
 GENE STRUCTURE

• A gene consists of 2 polynucleotide

chains
• One chain is called the template and
contains a sequence of nucleotides
or bases which help determine the
kind of protein produced in the cell
• The instruction needed to produce
one particular amino acid- the basic
unit of protein-is carried by the
specific sequence of three nitrogen
containing bases known as a codon