In: Biology
The DNA in a cell is present in nucleus combined with histones. The DNA along with histones is complexed to form chromosome. Chromosomes carry genetic information in the form of genes. Thus, genes are stretches of DNA present on chromosomes and code for one or more proteins.
Genes are made up of sequence of nucleotides in DNA that code for proteins. DNA nucleotides are composed of a deoxyribose sugar that is linked to phosphate groups and nitrogen bases. There are four nitrogen bases in DNA: adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine.
Genes are made up of sequence of nucleotides in a DNA strand. Genes are transcribed into mRNA where in the thymine is replaced by uracil. mRNA has the same sequence as the 5’ to 3’ strand of DNA. Genes contain a start codon, a stop codon, and regulatory elements.
A set of three nucleotides in mRNA is called a codon and codes for one amino acid. Start codon is mostly AUG that codes for methionine. Stop codons do not code for any amino acids and are UAA, UAG, UGA. One codon codes for one amino acid but one amino acid can be coded for more than one codon, as there are only 20 amino acids. The gene sequence is converted to a protein sequence by process of translation, using tRNA and ribosomes.
Thus, genes are made up of nucleotide sequences that code for one or more proteins.