Our genes are made up of DNA, a molecule with this coded information.
These instructions include a person’s sex, features, and risk of medical conditions.
What Are Genes Made Of?
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Genes are composed of DNA and encoded for a specific purpose.
How genes are encoded will determine how you look or how your body functions.
Every person has two copies of a gene, each inherited from a parent.
Some genes provide instructions to produce specific types of proteins.
Others may lead to congenital (inherited) disorders likecystic fibrosisorHuntingtons disease.
The rest is made up of non-coded DNA that doesn’t produce protein but helps regulate how genes function.
What Is DNA Made Of?
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a building block that makes up your genes.
Within DNA is a unique chemical code that guides your growth, development, and function.
The pairs are then attached to form what looks like a spiraling ladder, known as adouble helix.
The specific order, or sequence, of these nucleotide bases determines which instructions are given.
The remaining 1% is what differentiates one human from the next.
What Are Chromosomes Made Of?
Chromosomes are made up of around 1,000 genes.
One pair of chromosomes, called thesex chromosomes, determines whether you are born male or female.
Females have a pair of XX chromosomes, while males have a pair of XY chromosomes.
The other 22 pairs are calledautosomal chromosomes.
These determine the rest of your bodys makeup.
Certain genes within these chromosomes may either be dominant or recessive.
This can determine which traits predominate and which don’t.
By definition:
What Is a Genome?
Agenomeis the complete set of genetic instructions that determine the traits and characteristics of an organism.
While the genome of each species is distinct, every organism within that species has its own unique genome.
This is why no two people are exactly alike, including twins.
What Is Genetic Variation?
Genes are prone to coding errors.
This is often due to copying errors that occur when a cell divides.
Radiation-induced cancer is triggered by genetic changes triggered by excessive exposure to medical or occupational radiation.
The new allele can then be passed from parents to offspring.
Down syndrome is one such example of genetic recombination.
Genetic testing can be performed on blood, skin, hair,amniotic fluid, or other body tissues.
Genetic tests look for specific DNA mutations associated with different diseases.
A genetic counselor can help characterize the risk so that they can make an informed choice.
While the prognostic values of self-tests are improving, they are prone to inaccuracies.
Chromosomes containing thousands of genes are passed from parents to offspring and determine an individual’s unique traits.
Together, DNA, genes, and chromosomes make up each organism’s genome.
Genetic tests can detect mutations that may help diagnose or predict your risk of certain diseases.
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