The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Genetic material is the inheritable material of an organism. The genetic material of most life forms is comprised of DNA. DNA is present in the cells as chromosomes, which are found in the nucleus of eukaryotes. This is not the only location for genetic material. Some DNA is located in the organelles of various organisms. These organelles are chiefly known as mitochondria, or in plants as chloroplasts. Genes that are contained in organelles are said to show "extra nuclear inheritance." These types of genes show a slightly different pattern of inheritance compared to nuclear genes. Some organisms contain RNA as their genetic material. This type of inheritable material is restricted to only a small number of viruses. Organisms which have their genetic material dispersed throughout the cell are called prokaryotes. Some bacteria and all viruses are prokaryotes.
Genetic material must be able to replicate information about itself to pass on to future generations. In 1944, Oswald Avery showed that genetic material was carried in the nucleic acid of the cell. In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick suggested the method by which DNA was able to replicate itself.