B1 - You and Your Genes

B1 - You and Your Genes

1. Genes, Chromosome and DNA

   • a gene is a short length of a cromosome
   • each chromosome is a very long molecule of DNA
   • the genetic material in the nucleus is arranged into chromosomes
   • most cells in the body have a nucleus
   • the nucleus controls what the cell actually does
   • the nucleus contains the genetic material
   • each gene is a code for making a certain protein
     • having different versions of proteins means we end up with different characteristics
   • genes can exist is different versions
     • different versions give different characteristics
       • different versions of the same gene are called alleles
       • e.g. blue eyes
   • other proteins are functional proteins
     • for example enzymes are proteins which help with food digestion by breaking up food molecules