PSYCH207 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Defence Mechanisms, Epigenome, Alternative Medicine
19 Sep 2013
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Document Summary
Both genetic and epigenetic factors interact with environmental variables to shape out level of health and well-being across the lifespan. Our body cells" nuclei contain 23 pairs of chromosomes that are made up of about, an astounding 2 metres of finely coiled dna molecules. Each chromosome is divided into segments, called genes, each of which influences a particular feature or developmental pattern. A gene controlling a specific characteristic always appears in the same place (the locus) on the same chromosome in every individual of the same species. For example, the locus of the gene that determines whether a person"s blood type is a, b, or o is on chromosome 9. Each of our 46 chromosomes contains anywhere from 231 to 3141 genes. In all, each human body cell nucleus possesses an estimated 23 000 genes. An essential function of genes is to instruct body cells to combine 20 standard amino acids to build the.
