Bill Nye: Genes - Video Notes

1. Where do you get your genes?

Cousins

Parents

Aunty

Friends

Genes are inherited from our biological parents. They pass on their genetic material to their offspring, including traits and characteristics. Cousins, aunts, and friends do not directly contribute to our genetic makeup. While cousins share some genetic similarities due to common ancestors, it is our parents who primarily determine our genetic composition.

Explanation

Genes are inherited from our biological parents. They pass on their genetic material to their offspring, including traits and characteristics. Cousins, aunts, and friends do not directly contribute to our genetic makeup. While cousins share some genetic similarities due to common ancestors, it is our parents who primarily determine our genetic composition.

2. Inside each cell there are very small bundles of chemical called DNA

True

False

The statement is true because DNA is indeed present inside each cell. DNA is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, and reproduction of all living organisms. It is located within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells. DNA is organized into structures called chromosomes, which contain genes that determine an organism's traits and characteristics. Therefore, the presence of DNA in cells is a fundamental aspect of biological processes.

Explanation

The statement is true because DNA is indeed present inside each cell. DNA is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, and reproduction of all living organisms. It is located within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells. DNA is organized into structures called chromosomes, which contain genes that determine an organism's traits and characteristics. Therefore, the presence of DNA in cells is a fundamental aspect of biological processes.

3. You get___chromosomes from your Mom and___chromosomes from your Dad.

23, 23

46, 23

56, 32

35, 87

Each human has a total of 46 chromosomes, which are divided into 23 pairs. One chromosome from each pair is inherited from the mother, and the other from the father. Therefore, you get 23 chromosomes from your mom and 23 chromosomes from your dad, resulting in a total of 46 chromosomes.

Explanation

Each human has a total of 46 chromosomes, which are divided into 23 pairs. One chromosome from each pair is inherited from the mother, and the other from the father. Therefore, you get 23 chromosomes from your mom and 23 chromosomes from your dad, resulting in a total of 46 chromosomes.

4. How many times longer is DNA than it is wide?

10

1,000

100

1,000,000,000

DNA is a double helix structure, meaning it has two strands that are twisted around each other. The length of DNA is determined by the number of base pairs it contains. Each base pair consists of two nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA. The width of DNA refers to the distance between the two strands. Since the two strands are twisted around each other, the width is much smaller compared to the length. Therefore, DNA is approximately 1,000,000,000 times longer than it is wide.

Explanation

DNA is a double helix structure, meaning it has two strands that are twisted around each other. The length of DNA is determined by the number of base pairs it contains. Each base pair consists of two nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA. The width of DNA refers to the distance between the two strands. Since the two strands are twisted around each other, the width is much smaller compared to the length. Therefore, DNA is approximately 1,000,000,000 times longer than it is wide.

5. Humans have about 90,000 genes.

True

False

Humans have about 80,000 genes.

Explanation

Humans have about 80,000 genes.

6. Humans have___pairs of chromosomes for a total of___.

Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, which means they have a total of 46 chromosomes. Each pair consists of one chromosome inherited from the mother and one from the father. These chromosomes carry the genetic information that determines various traits and characteristics of an individual.

Explanation

Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, which means they have a total of 46 chromosomes. Each pair consists of one chromosome inherited from the mother and one from the father. These chromosomes carry the genetic information that determines various traits and characteristics of an individual.

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7. Your genes tell your ______what to do.

Genes contain the instructions or information that determine the characteristics and functions of an individual. They provide the blueprint for the development, growth, and functioning of all the cells in an organism. Therefore, it can be inferred that genes tell your "selves" (referring to the individual's body or cells) what to do.

Explanation

Genes contain the instructions or information that determine the characteristics and functions of an individual. They provide the blueprint for the development, growth, and functioning of all the cells in an organism. Therefore, it can be inferred that genes tell your "selves" (referring to the individual's body or cells) what to do.

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8. Human genes can combine in about____________different combinations. All these combinations from only___chemicals!

Human genes can combine in about 70 trillion different combinations. This is possible because there are only 4 chemicals involved in the genetic code, namely adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). These chemicals form the building blocks of DNA and can be arranged in various sequences to create different genes. The vast number of combinations allows for the immense genetic diversity seen in humans.

Explanation

Human genes can combine in about 70 trillion different combinations. This is possible because there are only 4 chemicals involved in the genetic code, namely adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). These chemicals form the building blocks of DNA and can be arranged in various sequences to create different genes. The vast number of combinations allows for the immense genetic diversity seen in humans.

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9. How many pages would it take to print out the list of the combination of chemiccals for the whole human?

a thousand

one-hundred

half million

a billion

To print out the list of combinations of chemicals for the whole human, it would take half a million pages. This implies that there are a vast number of chemical combinations in the human body, and it would require a significant amount of paper to document all of them.

Explanation

To print out the list of combinations of chemicals for the whole human, it would take half a million pages. This implies that there are a vast number of chemical combinations in the human body, and it would require a significant amount of paper to document all of them.

10. How many pages would it take to print out the list of the combination of chemicals for the hair color gene?

100 pages

20 pages

5 pages

10 pages

The correct answer is 5 pages. This suggests that the list of combinations for the hair color gene is relatively short and can be printed out on just a few pages.

Explanation

The correct answer is 5 pages. This suggests that the list of combinations for the hair color gene is relatively short and can be printed out on just a few pages.