Genetic material
Genetic Material
Genetic material (/dʒɪˈnɛtɪk məˈtɪəriəl/) refers to the medium by which instructions are transmitted from one generation of organisms to the next. The primary genetic material in all organisms is DNA, although some viruses use RNA.
Etymology
The term "genetic material" is derived from the word "genetic", which comes from the Greek word "genetikos" meaning "genitive" and "material", which originates from the Latin word "materialis", meaning "matter" or "substance".
DNA
DNA (/diːɛnˈeɪ/) is a molecule composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. It carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses.
RNA
RNA (/ɑːrɛnˈeɪ/) is a polymeric molecule essential in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. Like DNA, RNA is assembled as a chain of nucleotides, but unlike DNA, RNA is found in nature as a single strand folded onto itself, rather than a paired double strand.
Related Terms
- Genome: The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
- Chromosome: A thread-like structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
- Gene: A unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
- Nucleotide: The basic building block of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Genetic material
- Wikipedia's article - Genetic material
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