THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

OF CELLULAR GENOMES
By : Rojanah Apresianti , Nilam Nastiti , Shilmy
Irmaayanti
 Genotype versus
Phenotype
• The full collection of genes that a cell contains
within its genome is called its genotype.

• The set of genes being expressed at any given

point in time determines the cell’s activities and
its observable characteristics, referred to as
its phenotype.
 Example
• Bacterium Streptococcus
mutans produces a sticky slime layer that
allows it to adhere to teeth, forming dental
plaque; however, the genes that control
the production of the slime layer are only
expressed in the presence of sucrose
(table sugar).
 Organization of Genetic Material

• 1. Organization of Eukaryotic
Chromosome
• 2. Organization of Prokaryotic
Chromosomes
 Organization of Eukaryotic
Chromosome
• chromosomes are typically linear, and
eukaryotic cells contain multiple distinct
chromosomes. Many eukaryotic cells
contain two copies of each chromosome
and, therefore, are diploid.
>>
• The length of a chromosome greatly
exceeds the length of the cell, so a
chromosome needs to be packaged into a
very small space to fit within the cell.
>>
• During DNA packaging, DNA-binding proteins
called histones perform various levels of DNA
wrapping and attachment to scaffolding proteins.

• In eukaryotes, the packaging of DNA by histones

may be influenced by environmental factors that
affect the presence of methyl groups on certain
cytosine nucleotides of DNA.
 Organization of Prokaryotic
Chromosomes
• Chromosomes in bacteria and archaea are
usually circular, and a prokaryotic cell
typically contains only a single
chromosome within the nucleoid. Because
the chromosome contains only one copy
of each gene, prokaryotes are haploid
• Because different regions of DNA are
packaged differently, some regions of
chromosomal DNA are more accessible to
enzymes and thus may be used more
readily as templates for gene expression
 Noncoding DNA
• Genome also contains many regions
of noncoding DNA that do not encode
proteins or stable RNA products.
• Prokaryotes appear to use their genomes
very efficiently, with only an average of
12% of the genome being taken up by
noncoding sequences.
• In contrast, noncoding DNA can represent
about 98% of the genome in eukaryotes,
as seen in humans, but the percentage of
noncoding DNA varies between species
Thank you !