wein.plus
Attention
You are using an old browser that may not function as expected.
For a better, safer browsing experience, please upgrade your browser.

Log in Become a Member

Genome

The totality of all genes (genetic material) of an organism in a cell; see chromosome.

Chromosomes (ancient Greek chrōma = colour, sōma = body) are components of each individual cell of an organism (animals or humans, plants and fungi) with genetic information stored on them in the form of genes. The name (coloured body) is derived from the fact that these structures can be easily stained with basic dyes. Each chromosome is a long DNA chain in the form of a double helix with hundreds of genes that are linked together. A human cell usually contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, i.e. a total of 46 chromosomes, which are collectively referred to as the genome. These 23 pairs are of different lengths, each with different information. In a man, the 23rd pair is the sex-determining XY chromosome (in a woman it is XX with identical length).

Chromosom - Human Genom Male (Mann)

Stem cells

Stem cells that contain the complete genome in undifferentiated form are found in many parts of the human (and to a large extent animal) organism. These are, for example, the umbilical cord and the nerve centres. Stem cells can then be further developed by cell division into the differentiated, various tissue function cells. As a differentiated cell of a specific tissue or organ, a corresponding cell no longer possesses the complete genome of the individual, but only the genetic information for the respective function (e.g. lung) that has been transcribed from the entire genome. Therefore, the path back from the differentiated cell to a stem cell is not possible, whereas the path from a stem cell to each differentiated cell of the corresponding organ requirement of an organism is possible through natural processes and today also through appropriate cell culture manipulation.

Gene

A gene is a tiny section of the DNA chain that contains the information for the production of RNA (ribonucleic acid = ribonucleic acid RNA). In contrast to DNA, RNA is not present as a double helix, but only as a single strand. The task of RNA is to "read" the information stored in the DNA and to transport single-stranded RNA to different locations within the cell. An essential function of RNA in the cell is therefore the conversion of genetic information into proteins . In the construction of a house, the blueprint could be described as DNA and the craftsmen working on it as RNA. Humans have around 25,500 genes, whereas a water flea has 30,000, so it is not the number of genes that is important, but how they are connected and interact.

Consistency of the chromosomes

In humans, 23 chromosomes are passed on from each parent (mother and father) to the offspring. There is therefore a duplicate version of the blueprint of life in every cell of the body. Each DNA is unique (except for identical twins), but well over 99 per cent of the genetic information between people is identical. Significantly less than one per cent makes the difference between all human individuals. In principle, this very small difference applies to all individuals within a particular species, although there are differences in detail.

Structure of the chromosome

A chromosome can contain several hundred to several thousand genes. In a pair of...

Voices of our members

Dr. Edgar Müller

I have great respect for the scope and quality of the wein.plus encyclopaedia. It is a unique place to go for crisp, sound information on terms from the world of wine.

Dr. Edgar Müller
Dozent, Önologe und Weinbauberater, Bad Kreuznach

The world's largest Lexicon of wine terms.

26,379 Keywords · 46,983 Synonyms · 5,323 Translations · 31,713 Pronunciations · 202,093 Cross-references
made with by our author Norbert F. J. Tischelmayer. About the Lexicon

EVENTS NEAR YOU

PREMIUM PARTNERS