Table of Contents
Genes and Chromosomes; The Difference between Gene and Chromosome can be Explained as:
A gene is a specific sequence of DNA that codes for a specific protein. Chromosomes are structures inside cells that contain genes.
DNA Structure
DNA is a molecule that encodes the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. The double-helix structure of DNA is iconic of the field of molecular biology.
The structure of DNA was elucidated in 1953 by James Watson and Francis Crick, based on X-ray crystallography data collected by Rosalind Franklin. The DNA molecule is a long polymer of nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base. The phosphate and sugar groups are linked together by a covalent bond, and the nitrogenous bases are linked together by hydrogen bonds. The DNA molecule is typically double-stranded, but can exist as a single strand in a process called DNA replication.
The nitrogenous bases in DNA are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). Adenine and guanine are purines, and cytosine and thymine are pyrimidines. The sequence of nucleotides in DNA determines the genetic information carried by the molecule.
Genes vs Chromosomes
Genes are the basic physical and functional units of heredity. Chromosomes are structures within the nucleus of a cell that carry the genes.
Sets of Chromosomes
Chromosomes are threadlike structures found inside the cells of plants and animals. They carry the genetic information that determines the characteristics of an organism. In humans, each cell contains 46 chromosomes. Chromosomes are made up of DNA, the genetic material of an organism.
Structure of DNA
The helical structure of DNA is formed by the backbone of the molecule, which is a chain of alternating phosphate and sugar groups, and the bases that protrude from it. The sugar and phosphate groups form the “rails” of the helix, and the bases stick out from the sides of the rails like the rungs of a ladder. The DNA backbone is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the phosphate and sugar groups. The bases are paired together in a specific way: adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G).
Gene vs Chromosome
A gene is a section of DNA that codes for a specific protein. Chromosomes are structures within the cell nucleus that carry genes. Genes are located on chromosomes.
