What is the difference between genes and proteins

We need for the amino acids to be put together just right or we can end up with a disease. Like sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is a disease that affects around 72, people in the U. Most of these folks have ancestors who came from Africa. Click here to find out why it is so common in people of African descent. People with sickle cell anemia have a single difference in the letters of their hemoglobin gene instructions.

Their gene starts out with:. This one difference is enough to cause sickle cell anemia! In other words, a difference of 1 out of 3 billion letters can cause the problems of sickle cell anemia. Similar small changes in other genes can cause problems like cystic fibrosis, dwarfism, etc.

So there you have it. Genes and chromosomes are made up of the 4 letters of DNA. And cells read the letters found in stretches of DNA called genes to make proteins that help our bodies and minds run properly. By Dr. Barry Starr, Stanford University. More about chromosomes Chromosome 11 in all its glory Original research article on sequencing chromosome The genetic alphabet has 4 letters.

The genetic language is made of 64 three letter words. It is located on a chromosome at a specific genetic locus. The genetic information located in the specific locus is usually transcribed into a single RNA molecule, which eventually is coded for a particular protein.

These genes are called protein-coding genes. Not all RNA transcribed from genes are translated into proteins. These genes are called non-coding genes. The study of genes is called genetics. In eukaryotes , chromosome pairs are arranged as homologous pairs. Different forms of the same gene located at the same position or locus are known as alleles.

Translation: This is the second step in the production of proteins and it takes place in the cytoplasm. Each sequence has three bases called a codon, which codes for one particular amino acid. The characterisation of different proteins can be conducted by Size Exclusion Chromatography as this technique can be used characterise molecular weight, structure and aggregation state.

ATA Scientific provides quality scientific equipment for all your needs, so contact us today for a free consultation. Speak with the ATA Scientific team today to get expert advice on the right instruments for your research. Looking for the perfect analytics instrument for YOUR next big discovery? Speak with the ATA Scientific team today to get expert advice on the right instruments for your research Request free consultation. The genetic code is degenerate as there are 64 possible nucleotide triplets 4 3 , which is far more than the number of amino acids.

These nucleotide triplets are called codons; they instruct the addition of a specific amino acid to a polypeptide chain. Sixty-one of the codons encode twenty different amino acids. Most of these amino acids can be encoded by more than one codon. Three of the 64 codons terminate protein synthesis and release the polypeptide from the translation machinery.

These triplets are called stop codons. The stop codon UGA is sometimes used to encode a 21st amino acid called selenocysteine Sec , but only if the mRNA additionally contains a specific sequence of nucleotides called a selenocysteine insertion sequence SECIS.

The stop codon UAG is sometimes used by a few species of microorganisms to encode a 22nd amino acid called pyrrolysine Pyl.

The codon AUG, also has a special function. In addition to specifying the amino acid methionine, it also serves as the start codon to initiate translation. The reading frame for translation is set by the AUG start codon. The genetic code is universal. With a few exceptions, virtually all species use the same genetic code for protein synthesis.

The universal nature of the genetic code is powerful evidence that all of life on Earth shares a common origin.