XPA Gene
This page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, an undergraduate course at UW-Madison.
This page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, an undergraduate course at UW-Madison.
What is a gene?
A gene is the biological unit that stores hereditary material. This material, called DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecular instruction manual for an organism. [1] Chemical bases are arranged into genes, and these genes code for specific biological processes. Sometimes the order of bases is disrupted, however, and this is called a mutation. There are many types of mutations; some add or delete bases, others change a base to a different one. Although some mutations are not harmful, many mutations can have detrimental effects. Xeroderma pigmentosum is a result of a mutation in the XPA gene.
The XPA gene is located on chromosome 9, specificially, 9q22.3. Chromosome 9 contains approximately 800 to 900 genes that aid in formation of proteins, and contains about 4.5 percent of DNA that is in cells. [2]
Because the XPA gene is so large (138,394,717 base pairs) [3], many of the genomic studies could only be performed on the protein. The sequence was too large for analysis of homology, phylogeny, and domain and motif analysis.
References
1. Genetics Home Reference. (2014) http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/basics/gene. Accessed April 28, 2014.
2. Genetics Home Reference. (2012) http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/chromosome/9. Accessed April 28, 2014.
3. NCBI Nucleotide Search. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/568815589. Accessed April 30, 2014.
1. Genetics Home Reference. (2014) http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/basics/gene. Accessed April 28, 2014.
2. Genetics Home Reference. (2012) http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/chromosome/9. Accessed April 28, 2014.
3. NCBI Nucleotide Search. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/568815589. Accessed April 30, 2014.
Site Created By: Sarah Drewes
Contact: [email protected]
Last Modified: 05/18/14
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Contact: [email protected]
Last Modified: 05/18/14
University of Wisconsin-Madison