Sunday Emmanuel

@sundayemmanuel · 22 Nov 2021

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What is a gene?

Gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity in biology. It is also a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that encodes the synthesis of a gene product, either RNA or protein. Scientists keep track of genes by giving them unique names. Because gene names can be long, genes are also assigned to symbols which are short combinations of letters [ and sometimes numbers] that represent an abbreviated version of the gene name. In humans, genes vary in size from a few hundred DNA bases to more than 2 million bases. Genes are passed from parents to offspring and contain the information needed to specify traits. Genes are arranged one after another on structures called chromosomes.

The function of genes.

1. Genes controls the functions of DNA and RNA

2. Genes also control protein synthesis which is the most important material in the human body which not only help by being the building blocks for muscles, connecting tissue and skin but also takes care of the production of the enzyme.

3. Genes consist of a particular set of instructions or specific functions. For example, the globin gene was instructed to produce haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is a protein that helps carry oxygen
in the blood.

Types of genes:

There is six types of genes:
1. Complementary gene.
2. Duplicate gene.
3. Polymeric gene.
4. Modifying gene.
5. Lethal gene.
6. Moveable gene.