Structure of Eukaryotic Genome

Structure of Eukaryotic genome
The Genome
• Refers to the entire genetic material or genetic makeup of an
organism.
• Consists of DNA in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes;
• RNA viruses are exceptions to this rule.
• Bacterial genome consists of a single molecule of DNA usually
dispersed in the cytoplasm; some contain extra chromosomal
DNA (plasmids).
• Eukaryotic genome consists of a complete set of DNA in the
nucleus; chloroplasts and mitochondria contain DNA.
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Genomes
• The genome of eukaryotes contain far more genetic
information than prokaryotes.
• DNA in eukaryotes have more structural organization
than prokaryotes.
• The DNA is associated with basic proteins called
histones.
• The genes are contained in the nuclei bound by
nuclear membranes.
Prokaryotic Genomes
• Prokaryotic genomes are
made of DNA.
• Prokaryotic
chromosomes can be
circular or linear. Transmission electron
micrograph of
• Prokaryotic cells do not E. coli O157:H7 showing
flagella. (Courtesy of the CDC)
contain organelles.
• Genomes float freely inside the
cell.
Eukaryotic Genomes
• The genomes of eukaryotic
organisms are made of
DNA.
organisms contain introns. Human epithelial cells
stained with
• Eukaryotic genomes frequently DAPI (blue, to show the
nucleus) and
include several to many linear phallotoxin (red, to show F-
actin in the cell body)
chromosomes.
Courtesy of RL Alford, PhD
Viral Genomes
• Some viral genomes are
made up of DNA; others
are RNA. HIV-1 virus budding from a
cultured lymphocyte
• Some viral genomes are (Transmission electron micrograph courtesy of CDC)
single-stranded; others are

double-stranded.
• Some viruses integrate
their genetic material into
the host cell’s genome;
others do not. Hantaviruses that cause Hantavirus
pulmonary syndrome are carried in
rodent droppings
(Transmission electron micrograph courtesy of CDC )
The Gene
• Genetic information (information on the blueprint for
the organism) is organized into genes/cistrons.
• The gene is the unit of heredity.
• Genes are located on the chromosomes.
• A gene is a sequence of DNA (a finite sequence of
nucleotides) capable of independent expression.
• Its major function is to specify the sequence of amino
acids in a protein; it determines the protein structure.
Alleles
• A gene can exist in different forms
called alleles
i. Dominant & Recessive,
ii. Genotype: combination of alleles in
organism
iii. Phenotype: visible expression of
genotype
 Heterozygotes & Homozygotes Diploid pair showing
Dominant or Recessive
genotypes.
DNA
• Genes are composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

Monomers of DNA are called Nucleotides.
(E.g. Deoxyadenosine phosphates, dAMP, dADP, & dATP).
Nucleotides
• Nucleotides have 3 parts:
i. Phosphate
ii. 5-carbon sugar (deoxyribose)
iii. One of 4 Nitrogenous bases
 Adenine (A), Guanine (G),
Thymine (T), Cytosine (C)
 A & G (purines – 2 rings);
C & T (pyrimidines – 1 ring)
Purine and Pyrimidine bases in DNA & RNA
Nucleosides
• Nucleotides minus phosphate Base Nucleoside Deoxynucleoside
are known as Nucleosides. (RNA) (DNA)
Adenine Adenosine Deoxyadenosine
Guanine Guanosine Deoxyguanosine
Cytosine Cytidine Deoxycytidine
Uracil Uridine Not usually found

Thymine Not usually Deoxythymidine
found
Base Pair
• Chargaff’s Chemical study (1950)
Total Purines (A + G) =
Total Pyrimidines (C + T)
Therefore, A pairs with T whereas

G pairs with C always.
A=T
G≡C
Phosphodiester Bond
• Watson & Crick in 1953 proposed:
• DNA = double-stranded helix
• Nucleotides linked by Phosphodiester
bond
Phosphate = bridge between adjacent
nucleotides.
DNA molecule has polarity: 5’ phosphate
at top & free 3’ hydroxyl at bottom end
where new nucleotide can be added.
Trinucleotide showing Phospho-
diester bonds, 5’ & 3’
Gene Location
• Genes are not distributed randomly in a genome.
• Each is located on specific region of the
chromosome.
• Maps are used to describe the location of a
particular gene on a chromosome.
• Cytogenetic location: based on unique pattern of bands
seen when chromosome is stained with certain
chemicals.
• Molecular location: based on the sequence of
nucleotides (base pairs) that make up the chromosome.
Cytogenetic location
Gene location based on the

unique pattern of bands
seen when chromosomes
are stained with certain
chemicals.
Genetic Code
• Genetic information is encoded in a triplet of bases
called codons.
• Codons specify amino acids to be incorporated into a
growing protein chain and also chain termination.
• There are 64 codons:
• 61 codons specify amino acids
• 3 codons specify chain termination
• Codons are on the mRNA while each tRNA has the
specific anticodon for a specific codon.
THE CODONS
Prokaryotic Genomes
• Prokaryotic genomes are
made of DNA.
• Prokaryotic
chromosomes can be
circular or linear. Transmission electron
micrograph of
• Prokaryotic cells do not E. coli O157:H7 showing
flagella. (Courtesy of the CDC)
contain organelles.
• Genomes float freely inside the
cell.
Eukaryotic Genomes
organisms are made of
DNA.
organisms contain introns. Human epithelial cells
stained with
• Eukaryotic genomes frequently DAPI (blue, to show the
nucleus) and
include several to many linear phallotoxin (red, to show F-
actin in the cell body)
chromosomes.
Courtesy of RL Alford, PhD
Viral Genomes
• Some viral genomes are
made up of DNA; others
are RNA. HIV-1 virus budding from a
cultured lymphocyte
• Some viral genomes are (Transmission electron micrograph courtesy of CDC)
single-stranded; others are

double-stranded.
• Some viruses integrate
their genetic material into
the host cell’s genome;
others do not. Hantaviruses that cause Hantavirus
pulmonary syndrome are carried in
rodent droppings
(Transmission electron micrograph courtesy of CDC )
The Human Genome (I)
• Consists of 23 pairs
of chromosomes.
• Chromosomes 1
through 22 are
called autosomes.
• The X and Y
chromosomes are
the sex
chromosomes.
• Males are XY.
• Females are XX.
2005 VisiScience Corporation.All rights reserved.
The Human Genome (II)
• The haploid human genome
contains 3 billion base pairs of
DNA.
• Only 1.5-3% of the human
genome codes for proteins.
• Humans have 35,000-100,000
genes.
• Humans are 99.9% identical at
the DNA level.
The Living Genome:
Reading the Book of Life,
Houston Museum of
Natural Science
Chromatin and DNA Packaging
• The DNA contained
within each human
cell would be 5.8 feet
long if it were
stretched out
lengthwise.
• To fit into the tiny
cell, each
chromosome is
subjected to several
levels of packaging.
• Packaged DNA is
called chromatin.
Courtesy of Helmut Schiessel,

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Structure of Eukaryotic genome

single-stranded; others are

• Genes are composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

Adenine Adenosine Deoxyadenosine

Guanine Guanosine Deoxyguanosine

Cytosine Cytidine Deoxycytidine

Uracil Uridine Not usually found

Therefore, A pairs with T whereas

Gene location based on the

single-stranded; others are

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