DNA Decoded
All living organisms store their instructions in this coded chemical material.
What is DNA?
A section of DNA that codes for a particular trait or protein is given this name.
What is a gene?
This pair of scientists is most famous for publishing the double-helix model of DNA in 1953.
Who are Watson and Crick?
This type of reproduction needs two parents and produces offspring with a mix of both parents' genes.
What is sexual reproduction?
A change in the DNA sequence, which can be beneficial, harmful, or have no effect, is called this.
What is a mutation?
This is the shape of the DNA molecule, described by Watson and Crick in 1953.
What is a double helix?
DNA is tightly coiled and packaged into these gene-containing thread-like structures, visible when a cell divides.
What are chromosomes?
Her X-ray images, especially "Photo 51," were crucial evidence for the double-helix structure.
Who is Rosalind Franklin?
This type of reproduction involves one parent and produces offspring that are genetically identical (clones).
What is asexual reproduction?
This process, proposed by Darwin, means organisms best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce — "survival of the fittest."
What is natural selection?
The two strands of DNA are held together by pairs of these, which also carry the coded information.
What are (nitrogenous) bases?
The complete set of ALL the genetic information in an organism is called this.
What is the genome?
Watson and Crick built these to work out how the pieces of DNA fitted together — a common tool in science.
What are models?
An organism's genetic makeup for a trait (e.g. Bb) is its genotype; the trait you can actually observe (e.g. brown eyes) is called this.
What is phenotype?
Darwin studied the beaks of these birds on the Galápagos Islands, which varied depending on their food source.
What are (Darwin's) finches?
The DNA double helix is able to unzip and copy itself in this essential process, allowing cells to divide.
What is replication?
Put these in order from smallest to largest: chromosome, gene, genome.
What is gene, chromosome, genome?
The DNA story shows that major discoveries often rely on this — the combined work and data of many scientists, not just one person.
What is collaboration (building on others' work)?
A tall pea plant (Tt) is crossed with a short pea plant (tt). This grid is used to predict the ratio of offspring.
What is a Punnett square?
Preserved remains and impressions in rock that provide evidence of how life has changed over geological time.
What are fossils?
Besides replication, this is the other key job of DNA — providing the instructions to build these molecules that do most of the work in cells.
What are proteins?
Fruits like strawberries and kiwis are often used in this prac to physically do this to their DNA, making it visible as white strands.
What is (DNA) extraction?
This scientist worked with X-ray crystallography alongside Franklin and shared the 1962 Nobel Prize with Watson and Crick.
Who is Maurice Wilkins?
Traits like human height or skin colour aren't controlled by a single gene, because they're influenced by many genes plus these outside influences.
What are (multiple genes and) environmental factors?
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander rock engravings and stories record environmental change over time, including depictions of these large, now-extinct animals.
What is megafauna?