Download Plant DNA - The uniqueness of DNA

Plant DNA
Chromosomes in plants are repeatedly replicated, doubling the total number of chromosomes per cell each time.
Increasing the amount of DNA contained within each cell does have a lot of effects on the size and
function of the cells and, in turn, may affect the development of the whole plant. For example, increasing
the amount of DNA in a cell increases the cell’s size just due to the increased bulk. If enough cells
increase their size, the whole plant will increase in size, which is beneficial for a plant that needs to
regrow rapidly after being eaten. The increased cell size can also increase rates of water and nutrient
uptake into the plant, as well as increase the surface area available for capturing light for photosynthesis.
The expression of genes, short stretches of DNA that encode all the outward characteristics of organisms,
may also be influenced by DNA replication. Each chromosome is composed of a different set of genes,
and so Arabidopsis thaliana’s five basic chromosomes contain five unique sets of genes. When the DNA
is doubled, extra copies of all the genes are created. With so many extra copies in the cell, the rate of
gene expression is potentially increased, aiding in the regrowth and development of the damaged plant.
This is good news for Columbia, while Landsberg erecta does not fare as well. Current research seeks to
uncover the genetic differences between the varieties.
Unlike animal and human DNA; plant DNA is completely different, internally and externally.