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6.2 BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
The role of chromosomes as
structures that package DNA
DR AMER IBRAHIM BASHA
@JACARANDA NATURE OF BIOLOGY 2 VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 6E & HEINEMANN BIOLOGY 2 6TH ED
Objectives
Understand the following concept
1‐ The relationship between DNA and chromosomes
@JACARANDA NATURE OF BIOLOGY 2 VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 6E & HEINEMANN BIOLOGY 2 6TH ED
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The Role & Structure Of Chromosomes
A chromosome is a structure containing a single DNA molecule and its associated proteins.
Chromosomes therefore carry genes.
• Inside the nucleus are some thread
like structures called Chromosomes.
• Chromosomes are made up of DNA.
• DNA is a chemical that contains the
instructions that mean the cell can
make a copy of itself
@JACARANDA NATURE OF BIOLOGY 2 VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 6E & HEINEMANN BIOLOGY 2 6TH ED
• Sections of DNA are
called GENES.
• Genes are responsible
for an organisms
features.
• e.g. we all have a gene
for eye colour, a gene
for skin colour, and
genes for height.
@JACARANDA NATURE OF BIOLOGY 2 VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 6E & HEINEMANN BIOLOGY 2 6TH ED
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Structure of chromosomes
1. In eukaryotes the DNA is coiled around small proteins called histones forming a particle,
called a nucleosome.
2. The DNA is coiled and super coiled around structural proteins.
3. Nucleosomes give the DNA strand the appearance of a string of beads.
4. This arrangement of DNA wrapped around histones serves to package the DNA efficiently
and to protect it from enzymatic degradation.
@JACARANDA NATURE OF BIOLOGY 2 VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 6E & HEINEMANN BIOLOGY 2 6TH ED
1. The coiling of DNA around histones to form
nucleosomes enables the huge quantity of DNA to
condense.
2. This condensed DNA is now known as chromatin.
3. Specific enzymes can control how tightly the
chromatin is packaged, which in turn can regulate
how easily certain genes within these sections are
expressed.
@JACARANDA NATURE OF BIOLOGY 2 VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 6E & HEINEMANN BIOLOGY 2 6TH ED
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In comparison, the DNA in prokaryotic cells is usually present in a single circular chromosome
that is located in the nucleoid region of the cytoplasm.
Prokaryotic chromosomes are less condensed than their eukaryotic, because histones are not
used in the supercoiling process..
@JACARANDA NATURE OF BIOLOGY 2 VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 6E & HEINEMANN BIOLOGY 2 6TH ED
For both eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells,
if the DNA is not packaged properly:
1. it will not physically fit into the cell, resulting in the loss of genetic information
2. the cell will not be able to distribute the DNA during cell division and so daughter cells will
not receive the correct genetic information.
@JACARANDA NATURE OF BIOLOGY 2 VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 6E & HEINEMANN BIOLOGY 2 6TH ED
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KEY IDEAS
1. Chromosomes are condensed single molecules of DNA with associated proteins.
2. Condensing of DNA allows a great deal of genetic information to be stored in a cell.
3. Prokaryotic chromosomes do not contain proteins within their structure.
4. Chromosomes that are highly condensed can be safely moved around the cell during cell
division.
@JACARANDA NATURE OF BIOLOGY 2 VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 6E & HEINEMANN BIOLOGY 2 6TH ED
