3.1.

Genes
Higher Level Biology
Year 11
Mr. Shum
Learning Objectives
I will You should try to

Review basic facts about DNA. Become conversant with DNA.

Remember these techniques.

Present some research techniques.
Consider whether you like research.

2
What’s DNA?
• Molecular structure.
• Macro structure.
• Gene expression.
• Mutation.
5’ atggtgcatc tgactcctga ggagaagtct gccgttactg ccctgtgggg caaggtgaac 3’
5’ atggtgcatc tgactcctgt ggagaagtct gccgttactg ccctgtgggg caaggtgaac 3’
• Genome.

3
Sequencing
• How do you sequence something invisible?
• Hint: think about gel electrophoresis and di-deoxy-nucleosides.

4
Genomics
“What does all this sequencing data
tell us about how life works?”
• Search for NCBI Gene. Click on the
first result.
• On Gene, search BRCA1. Click on
the result that says “Homo sapiens.”

5
Comparative Genomics
“What does all this sequencing data tell us about how life works?”
• On Google, search NCBI Gene. Click the first result.
• On Gene, search COX1. Click on any hit.
• In the gene report, click on the FASTA link to see sequence data.
• Click Send To > File > FASTA to download the sequence data.
• Download the sequences for COX1 from several different species.
• Download the software ClustalX from the Internet.
• Append sequences into this software to align them.

6
Comparing Genome Sizes and
Chromosome Numbers
Genome size (million base Number of chromosomes
Species pairs, per haploid) (haploid)
T2 phage (virus) 0.18 1
E. coli (bacterium) 5 1
D. melanogaster (fly) 140 4
P. equorum (worm) 185 2
O. sativa (rice) 430 12
C. familiaris 2392 39
P. troglodytes (chimp) 2981 24
H. sapiens 3000 23
P. japonica (flower) 150,000 -