Chapter 4. DNA Structure and the Genetic Code
Published Online: 27 JAN 2004
DOI: 10.1002/047146158X.ch4
Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Book Title
Cell Biology: A Short Course, Second Edition
Additional Information
How to Cite
Bolsover, S. R., Hyams, J. S., Shephard, E. A., White, H. A. and Wiedemann, C. G. (2004) DNA Structure and the Genetic Code, in Cell Biology: A Short Course, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, USA. doi: 10.1002/047146158X.ch4
Publication History
- Published Online: 27 JAN 2004
- Published Print: 14 NOV 2003
ISBN Information
Print ISBN: 9780471263937
Online ISBN: 9780471461586
- Summary
- Chapter
Keywords:
- DNA;
- chromosome;
- gene;
- double helix;
- plasmid;
- genetic code;
- reading frame;
- mutation
Summary
In this chapter we describe the structure of DNA and introduce the concept of the gene. DNA forms a double helix and is packaged into chromosomes. Plasmids and viruses generally have small genomes, which are replicated in the infected host cell. We describe the genetic code, with its start and stop signals, introduce types of mutation, and illustrate these with the example of trimethylaminuria (fish odor syndrome).