gene Related Biological Terms

In chemistry, a proton donor that can participate in catalysis. (see also general base; specific acid)

In chemistry, a proton acceptor that can participate in catalysis. (see also general base; specific acid)

Recombination between homologous chromosomes that may occur during meiosis anywhere along their lengths. (see also Holliday model; Meselson-Radding model)

The genetic code is the blueprint of life. It is the set of instructions that determines the characteristics and functions of all living organisms. The genetic code is made up of DNA, a complex molecule that contains the genetic information of an organism. DNA is made up of four nucleotide bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). These bases are arranged in a specific sequence, the code that determines the characteristics and functions of an organism. The genetic code works by encoding the instructions for the synthesis of proteins. Proteins are the building blocks of life and perform various functions in living organisms, such as enzymes, structural components, and signaling molecules. The genetic code specifies the sequence of amino acids that make up a protein. The genetic code is read in sets of three nucleotides called codons. Each codon specifies a particular amino acid or a signal to start or stop protein synthesis. There are 64 possible codons, which code for 20 different amino acids and three stop signals. The genetic code is universal, meaning it is the same for all living organisms. This suggests that all living organisms have a common ancestor and evolved from one origin. However, there are minor variations in the genetic code between different organisms, such as alternative start codons or differences in the amino acid coding assignments. Studying the genetic code is essential for many areas of biology, including genetics, evolution, and biotechnology. Understanding the genetic code can help us to understand how traits are inherited, how species evolve, and how to engineer proteins for various applications. In conclusion, the genetic code is a complex set of instructions that determines the characteristics and functions of all living organisms. It works by encoding the instructions for synthesizing proteins, which are the building blocks of life. The genetic code is universal and is the same for all living organisms, with some minor variations. Understanding the genetic code is essential for advancing our knowledge of biology and developing new biotechnologies.

(= code blocker (antisense drug))

An approach to defining the roles of individual factors in a complex system. Mutations in a metabolic pathway or physiological function are selected and the function of the cognate gene product is analysed. First addressed to metabolism in fungi, genetic dissection has more recently been applied to phenomena such as phototransduction in Drosophila retinas. see one-gene one-enzyme hypothesis Learn more about restriction enzymes.

A technique for establishing genetic relationships, especially in forensic medicine, by comparison of the occurrence of uncommon genetic markers.

An approach to the identification of the function of a large number of putative genes of a micro-organism, such as may have been uncovered by genome sequencing. A transposable element is inserted into a large number of sites in the genome of the micro-organism, and the mutagenized population is then grown under a wide variety of conditions that may suggest a gene's function. After many population doublings under each set of conditions, the micro-organisms' DNA is extracted and used as a resource for analysis of as many of the putative genes as is desired. PCR primers are constructed to hybridize with the transposable element and with a putative gene. PCR amplification using the primer pair will produce a spectrum of bands on separation by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, one from each mutation that can grow under the set of conditions, i.e. a genetic footprint of the gene. A comparison of the gene's footprints under permissive and restrictive conditions will indicate, by the absence of bands in the latter footprint, those growth conditions that require the function of the gene. Smith, V., Botstein, D. and Brown, P.O. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92, 6479-6483 Learn more about genetic code table.

(see mapping)

A DNA sequence that can be recognized and thus used to characterize the larger DNA sequence and the chromosome in which it occurs.