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Chapter 20: Problem 7

Contrast the terms nucleic acid, DNA and gene.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Nucleic acids are biomolecules important for all life and include DNA and RNA. DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is a type of nucleic acid; it carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning and reproduction of all organisms. A gene is a section of this DNA; it directs the making of a protein.

Step by step solution

01

Defining Nucleic Acid

Nucleic acids are a family of large, complex molecules that play critical roles in all living things. They are made up of a set of monomers called nucleotides. There are two types of nucleic acids namely DNA and RNA.
02

Defining DNA

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is one type of nucleic acid. It is a double helix molecule that carries the genetic instructions for development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses. DNA molecules are made up of two strands, each composed of nucleotides, coiled around each other.
03

Defining Gene

A gene is a segment of DNA that contains instructions to make molecules called proteins, which carry out various functions in the cell. In other words, genes are essentially pieces of DNA that determine particular traits or characteristics of an organism. Each gene has a specific location or address on a chromosome.
04

Comparing Nucleic Acid, DNA and Gene

In summary, while nucleic acid, DNA, and genes are all related, they are not the same thing. Nucleic acid is the over-arching term that includes both DNA and RNA. DNA is a type of nucleic acid that carries genetic information. A gene is a portion of this DNA molecule that contains the instructions for making a protein.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid, more commonly known as DNA, is a remarkable molecule that serves as the blueprint for life. It is a type of nucleic acid, a larger family of molecules essential to all living organisms. What makes DNA unique is its double helix structure, which resembles a twisted ladder, where the sides are sugar-phosphate backbones, and the rungs consist of nitrogenous base pairs. This structure allows DNA to efficiently store genetic information over a long span of DNA strands.

DNA is critical because it contains the instructions needed for an organism to develop, survive, and reproduce. Every cell in an organism's body reads the DNA instructions to perform its specific function. Additionally, DNA replication ensures that each new cell receives an exact copy of the DNA during cell division.
  • DNA carries the instructions for an organism's growth and function.
  • It is made up of nucleotides, which consist of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
  • The sequence of these nitrogenous bases鈥攁denine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine鈥攄etermines genetic information.
Genes
Genes are segments of DNA that act as specific sets of instructions to produce proteins, which are fundamental molecules for cellular function and structure. Proteins carry out a vast array of roles within an organism, from building tissues to regulating metabolic pathways. Think of genes as small units of instruction manuals, each detailing how to create a particular protein.

Genes control hereditary traits by deciding what proteins are made and when. They are located on chromosomes, which are long DNA molecules. Each gene occupies a particular spot (locus) on a chromosome, and variations in genes give rise to diversity among organisms.
  • Genes determine inherited characteristics.
  • Each gene has a specific function, often related to protein production.
  • They are the primary focus of genetic studies and molecular biology.
Genetic Information
Genetic information refers to the set of instructions found within the DNA that guides the development and functioning of an organism. This information is encoded in the sequence of the DNA bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine). Think of these sequences as the "language" of life, spelling out everything from hair color to disease susceptibility.

Understanding genetic information has profound implications in the fields of medicine, biotechnology, and anthropology. For example, genetic information can help identify gene-related disorders and allow scientists to develop targeted treatments. It can also reveal insights into the evolutionary history of organisms, showing how species are related.
  • Genetic information is the blueprint for an organism's traits.
  • The sequence of DNA bases encodes this information.
  • Genetic research contributes to advances in medicine and understanding of evolution.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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Polypeptides and Amino Acids Go to Appendix c. If you are using a TI-83 Plus, you can download the program PEPTIDE and run the application as directed. If you are using another calculator, your teacher will provide you with keystrokes to use. There are 20 amino acids that occur in proteins found in nature. The program will prompt you to input a number of amino acids. After you do, press ENTER. The program will respond with the number of different straight-chain polypeptides possible given that number of amino acid units. a. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is a dipeptide, a protein made of two amino acids. How many possible dipep- tides are there? b. Enkephalins produced in the brain serve to help the body deal with pain. Several of them are pentapeptides. That is, they are polypeptides made of five amino acids. How many different pentapeptides are there? c.The calculator uses the following equation: This equation can also be expressed as: number of polypeptides \(=\) $$\left(2^{\text { (number of amino acids } )}\right)\left(10^{\text { (number of amino acids } )}\right)$$ Given this equation, estimate how many possible polypeptides there are that are made of 100 amino acids? (Hint: The answer is too large for your calculator. However, you can use the graphing calculator to find the value of \(2^{(\text { number of amino acids })} . )\)

Explain how all of the following statements can be true: "Many plants use starch to pro- vide energy"; "Energy is supplied by glucose in both plants and animals'; and "ATP is the energy source in all living cells."
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