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Genes are the things that determine physical traits — how we look — and lots of other stuff about us. They carry information that helps make you who you are: curly or straight hair, long or short legs, even how you might smile or laugh, are all passed through generations of your family in genes. Keep reading to learn more about genes and how they work.

Each cell in the human body contains about 25,000 to 35,000 genes, which carry information that determines your traits (say: trates). Traits are characteristics you inherit from your parents; this means your parents pass some of their characteristics on to you through genes. For example, if both of your parents have green eyes, you might inherit the trait of green eyes from them. Or if your mom has freckles, you might inherit that trait and wind up with a freckled face. And genes aren't just in humans — all animals and plants have genes, too.

Genes hang out all lined up on thread-like things called chromosomes (say: kro-moh-somes). Chromosomes come in pairs, and there are hundreds, sometimes thousands, of genes in one chromosome. Together, all of the chromosomes and genes make up DNA, which is short for deoxyribonucleic (say: dee-ox-see-ri-bo-nyoo-clay-ik) acid.

Chromosomes are found inside cells, the very small units that make up all living things. A cell is so tiny that you can only see it through the lens of a strong microscope, and there are billions of cells in your body. Most cells have one nucleus (say: noo-clee-us). The nucleus, which is sort of egg-shaped, is like the brain of the cell. It tells every part of the cell what to do. How does the nucleus know so much? As tiny as it is, the nucleus has more information in it than the biggest dictionary you've ever seen.

In humans, a cell nucleus contains 46 individual chromosomes or 23 pairs of chromosomes (chromosomes come in pairs, remember? 23 X 2 = 46). Half of these chromosomes come from one parent and half come from the other parent. But not every living thing has 46 chromosomes inside of its cells. For instance, a fruit fly cell only has four chromosomes!

Each gene has a special job to do. It carries blueprints — the instructions — for making proteins (say: pro-teens) in the cell. Proteins are the building blocks for everything in your body. Bones and teeth, hair and earlobes, muscles and blood, all are made up of proteins (as well as other stuff). Those proteins help our bodies grow, work properly, and stay healthy. Scientists today estimate that each gene in the body may make as many as 10 different proteins. That's over 300,000 proteins!

Like chromosomes, genes come in pairs. Each of your biological parents has two copies of each of their genes, and each parent passes along just one copy to make up the genes you have. Genes that are passed on to you determine many of your traits, such as your hair color and skin color.

2007-01-13 17:36:25 · answer #1 · answered by jamaica 5 · 2 0

There are probably 20,000 to 25,000 genes in the human genome. Might be more. A gene is usually a section of DNA which tells a cell how to make a particular protein, but some genes appear to influence the action of other genes without ever creating a protein. By controlling the production of proteins, genes control the design and operation of an organism.

2007-01-13 17:40:51 · answer #2 · answered by PoppaJ 5 · 0 0

Number:
You may go through various answers.You will get some idea of how things have changed and how the number of genes in man has changed with research progress. A few years back it used to be 100.000. Now they estimate it to be around 25000 or so.
Function:
All genes code for RNA. There are basically three types of RNA.
All play one or the other role in protein synthesis.
Some of these proteins are enzymes, biocatalysts.
They accelerate biochemical reactions. An organism is the outcome of all those reactions. Life chugs along with these biochemical engines driven by enzymes. Without genes there won't be any life, as there won't be enzymes to drive the engine.

2007-01-14 03:07:27 · answer #3 · answered by Ishan26 7 · 0 0

Genes are the parts of your DNA molecule that contain the instructions for making proteins. The human DNA molecule contain approximately 100,000 "genes". Your body is made of and runs on proteins so they are extremely important. If something goes wrong in the making of a protein (for example the gene has a defect) it causes disease, dysfunction or death.

2007-01-13 17:37:35 · answer #4 · answered by CAROL P 4 · 1 0

Gene means a segment of DNA present in each chromosome . It a hereditary material that transfers from parents to offspring.Only one gene specifies a specific character.

2007-01-13 22:36:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

ok. dominant. it effective hides the recessive trait. undergo in ideas a punnit sq.? its the tremendous letter. recessive is the small letter. undergo in ideas, this stuff is the genotype. the kind of genes someone has. in case you want to apply an social gathering to exhibit your instructor you recognize this stuff: brown eye vs. blue blue are 2 recessive genes. say (aa). brown is a dominant characteristic. (A-) you dont recognize even if it truly is paired with a recessive or yet another dominant gene, yet you do recognize that it truly is expressed. so it truly is dominant. the above social gathering is a phenotype. undergo in ideas that!!! guarenteed which will be a question on that in case you obtain some punnit squares and gene question i desire this replaced into functional! save on interpreting and chugging.

2016-11-23 17:12:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Genes are the instructions for making proteins and made of nucleic acid. There are about 30,000 human genes. I do not understand you last question.

PS Jamaica gave a very good answer. Read it and go to her site.

Carol P. That 100,000 number was a bad pre-sequencing estimate. It is not valid.

2007-01-13 17:37:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

on the basis of modern molecular concept, gene is a hereditary determinant or unit of a specific biological function.in other words, they are segments of DNA.there may be about 30000-40000 genes in the human cells.

2007-01-14 01:30:32 · answer #8 · answered by iron muncher 3 · 0 0

Genes are responsible for characteristic features from 1 generation to another..
there are about 30000 to 40000 in a human body
this help in transmitting your parents features in u or in ur next generation n so on....

2007-01-13 17:52:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Genes are your traits of which u get by your mother and father,for example your hair color shape size.How long your feet are

2007-01-13 17:36:16 · answer #10 · answered by Alonzo M 1 · 1 0

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