Google Answers DNA - Chromosomes, Genes, and DNA

by Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei
Posted August 23, 2007 in DNA @ Google Answers, DNA in General

And so we continue plowing through the wonderful swamp of Google Answers in search of enlightenment.

Google Questioner:

TV programs give the impression that DNA is one long continuous molecule. But I always thought that there was a hierarchy:
(a) Cells contain chromosomes.
(b) Chromosomes contain genes.
(c) Genes contain DNA.

So, I have a couple of questions:
(1) Which is it? Is DNA one long continuous molecule, or is it divided into genes?
(2) Chromosomes are visible under a strong microscope as distinct entities. But how are distinct GENES identified? What marks the beginning and end of a particular gene?
(3) Is there a website that gives a visual representation of the hierarchy
of cells, chromosomes, genes, and DNA?

It’s a good thing our Google Questioner didn’t ask Jason at The Personal Genome because he’d have told him or her that “the gene is dead…oh wait…alive but sloppy.” Thanks for nothing, Jason! The official Google Answer to this question has lots more.

Tags: google answers, genetics, genes, dna, chromosomes

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