UNIT 14: Genes
Name:
Essential Idea(s):
Chromosomes carry genes in a linear sequence that is shared by members of a species.
IB Assessment Statements
Unit Objectives. Students will be able to:
3.1.U6
The genome is the whole of the genetic
information of an organism (total amount of
DNA, not just total amount of genes)


3.1.U7
The entire base sequence of human genes
was sequenced in the Human Genome
Project
3.1.NOS
Developments in scientific research follow
improvements in technology-gene
sequencers are used for the sequencing of
genes
3.2.A2
Comparison of genome size in T2 phage,
Escherichia coli, Drosophila melanogaster,
Homo sapiens, Paris japonica
3.2.U4
In a eukaryote species there are different
chromosomes that carry different genes
3.1.U1
A gene is a heritable factor that consists of a
length of DNA and influences a specific
characteristic
3.1.U2
A gene occupies a specific position on a
chromosomes
3.1.A2
Comparison of the number of genes in
humans with other species




Define genome, chromosomes, gene and locus
List and describe six applications of the information
gathered via the HGP.
Why are computer tools necessary for analyzing DNA
sequences?
What were the major goals of the human genome
project?
What organizations were primarily responsible for the
HGP?
Compare the genome size and number of genes for given
species.
Gene locus:
1
The Sequencing and Mapping of Entire Genomes
The Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of the Human Genome Project
Visit the website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Genome_Project. Read the information on the first
two sections of the page to determine which government and private organizations were involved with the
completion of the Human Genome Project. Write your notes within this box.
W
H
O
Visit the website http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/home.shtml. Record the bulleted
summaries of the goals of the Human Genome Project within this box.
W
H
A
T
Visit the website http://www.genome.gov/11006939. List countries that made contributions to the Human
Genome Project within this box.
W
H
E
R
E
2
Visit the website http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/project/timeline.shtml. Identify
when the following events took place:
W
H
E
N

When was the project first proposed?

When the project official started?

When was the first low resolution map of the human genome complete?

When was the first (and smallest) complete genome map completed? (Hint: it was for a bacterium).
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When was the first human chromosome completely sequenced?

When was a complete “working draft” of the human genome published?

When was the human genome project completed?
Dr. Fred Sanger developed the most commonly used sequencing technique, called chain termination
sequencing, in 1977. View the animation at http://www.dnalc.org/ddnalc/resources/cycseq.html and
answer the following questions
o What are the main ingredients in a sequencing reaction and what is each used for (hint: there are 5)?
H
O
W
o
Why must the strands be initially heated?
o
What happens when the temperature is again lowered?
o
What happens when a dideoxynucleotide is added to the strand?
o
How are the DNA fragments separated?
o
How is the DNA sequence read?
o
What is an electropherogram?
3
Technology and resources generated by the Human Genome Project and other genomics research are
already having a major impact on research across the life sciences. Visit the website
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/project/benefits.shtml to read how the
information gleamed from the Human Genome Project is being applied. Summarize the six major
applications below:
Molecular medicine
Energy sources and environmental applications
Risk assessment
W
H
Y
Bioarchaeology, anthropology, evolution, and human migration
DNA forensics (identification)
Agriculture, livestock breeding, and bioprocessing
4
Organism
T2 phage
Comparison of Genomes
Sketch
Genome Size
Draw a picture of the
Research the full
organism
genome size of the
organism
# of Genes
Research the number
of genes in the
organism
Escherichia coli
Drosophila
melanogaster
Homo sapiens
Paris japonica
What is the relationship between organism “complexity,” genome size and the total number of genes?
5