Genes

Genes

        Have you ever notice you look like your parents? Well, this is because of your genes! Genes are made of DNA. A gene is a segment of DNA. Genes also make up chromosomes. There are 46 sets of chromosomes in one of your cells, and billions of cells build your body.

                Genes give you more than looks. Have you ever like allergies, illnesses, body structure, etc. been allergic to anything that your parents are? If you have it’s because of genes! You can inherit all kinds of things from your parents with genes.

                Proteins make up most of your body. Proteins are made by cell. But, the cells couldn’t produce them without genes. Genes contain a formula that the cells use to make proteins! There are different kinds of protein. Different proteins do different things. Like, structural protein build up your hair, skin, mussels. A family of a certain protein is called an enzyme. Each type of protein is made up of different genes.

                Proteins are made of amino acids. There are only 20 different forms of amino acids. Each amino acid is coded. For it’s in a triplet. A triplet is a sequence if three bases (if you want information on bases click on DNA.). Sometimes protein requires 300 or more amino acids. A protein also may require 1,000 and up of DNA rungs (click on DNA to learn about rungs).

     Picture of genes to the courtesy of www.upstate.edu/ent/ genetic.shtml