Introduction to Molecular Genetics
Session 4: Molecular Genetics
1. Explain the Chemical Structure of RNA
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is composed of three different molecules:
A pentose D-ribose.
One of the following nitrogenous bases:
Purine: adenine (A) and guanine (G).
Pyrimidine: cytosine (C) and uracil (U).
A molecule of phosphoric acid.
The binding of ribose by a carbon-nitrogen base 1 of the pentose is called a nucleoside, and a nucleoside binding to a molecule of phosphoric acid through the 5′ carbon of deoxyribose is called a nucleotide.
Read MoreHeredity and Inheritance: Understanding Genetics
Heredity and Inheritance
What is Heredity?
Heredity is the passing of physical characteristics from parent to offspring. These characteristics are called inherited traits and are determined by one or many genes (e.g., eye color, hair and skin color, height).
Chromosome Theory of Inheritance
According to the chromosome theory of inheritance, genes are carried from parents to their offspring on chromosomes. In sexual reproduction, genetic material from two parents combines to produce a new organism, which
Read MorePublic Health and Medical Therapies
Public Health and Health
Public health and health is the set of activities and services to promote, protect, and restore the health of people.
- Promote: healthy habits, health education, preventive medicine, such as hygiene.
- Protect: health care and environmental control, for example, water treatment and disinfection, solid waste and wastewater, food safety, etc.
- Restore: diagnosis, treatment (medicine, surgery, transplants, etc.)
Vaccine and Serum
Vaccine: is an artificially prepared material from dead
Read MoreUnderstanding Blood: Composition, Function, and Disorders
What is Blood?
Blood is a liquid tissue that circulates throughout the body, delivering essential elements to cells for vital functions like breathing, energy production, and defense against infections. All organs rely on blood flow through arteries, veins, and capillaries. The blood volume in a person varies with age, weight, sex, and height, but adults typically have between 4.5 and 6 liters.
Blood is considered a highly specialized connective tissue.
Role of Blood Cells
Red Blood Cells (RBCs): Carry
Read MoreFrom DNA to Protein: Transcription and Translation
Transcription: mRNA Synthesis from DNA
Gene to Protein
Genes, located within specific DNA regions, hold the instructions for building specific proteins. Protein synthesis happens outside the nucleus, on ribosomes. To bridge this gap, a molecule is needed to carry the DNA code and ensure accurate protein production.
Transcription Process
- Initiation: RNA polymerase unwinds the DNA segment containing the target gene.
- Elongation: RNA polymerase adds RNA nucleotides from the nucleus to the DNA template strand,
Dietary Fiber and Its Effects
Dietary Fiber: Function, Sources, and Benefits
Background
Dietary fiber, previously known as “roughage,” refers to substances in plant foods that are not fully broken down by human digestive enzymes.
Initially, it was believed that dietary fiber was entirely indigestible and provided no energy.
It is now understood that some fiber undergoes fermentation in the large intestine by gut bacteria, producing short-chain fatty acids and gases.
These fatty acids are absorbed into the bloodstream and provide