DNA and the Genome
Explore the structure of DNA as a polymer made of nucleotides, and understand how genes, chromosomes, and the entire genome hold the instructions for life.
About This Topic
Explore the structure of DNA as a polymer made of nucleotides, and understand how genes, chromosomes, and the entire genome hold the instructions for life.
Key Questions
- Identify the components of a DNA nucleotide.
- Explain the relationship between a gene, a chromosome, and the genome.
- Analyse the importance of the Human Genome Project for medicine and our understanding of genetics.
Active Learning Ideas
See all activities→Activities & Teaching Strategies
See all activities
Planning templates for Biology
More in Inheritance, variation and evolution
Reproduction and Meiosis
Compare the processes and outcomes of asexual and sexual reproduction, and understand how meiosis produces genetically different gametes, which is essential for variation.
8 methodologies
Genetic Inheritance
Learn the language of genetics, including terms like allele, genotype, and phenotype, and use Punnett squares and family trees to predict the inheritance of traits.
8 methodologies
Variation and Mutation
Investigate the sources of variation within a species, focusing on the role of genetic mutations and the influence of environmental factors on an organism's characteristics.
8 methodologies
Evolution by Natural Selection
Uncover the theory of evolution proposed by Charles Darwin, understanding how variation, competition, and adaptation drive the process of natural selection and lead to the evolution of new species.
8 methodologies
Selective Breeding and Genetic Engineering
Compare the traditional method of selective breeding with modern genetic engineering, exploring the processes, applications, and ethical considerations of modifying organisms' genomes.
8 methodologies
Evidence for Evolution and Classification
Examine the evidence that supports the theory of evolution, such as the fossil record, and learn how scientists classify organisms into groups based on their evolutionary relationships.
8 methodologies