Introduction to Deoxyribo-Nucleic Acid

Contributed by:
Jonathan James
The highlights are:
1. DNA structure
2. Nucleotides
3. Base Pair Rule
4. How the code works?
1.
2. DNA stands for
Deoxyribonucleic acid
3. DNA Structure
DNA consists of two molecules that are
arranged into a ladder-like structure
called a Double Helix.
A molecule of DNA is made up of millions
of tiny subunits called Nucleotides.
Each nucleotide consists of:
1. Phosphate group
2. Pentose sugar
3. Nitrogenous base
4. Phosphat
e
Nitrogeno
us
Base
Pentos
e
Sugar
5. The phosphate and sugar form the
backbone of the DNA molecule,
whereas the bases form the “rungs”.
There are four types of nitrogenous
bases.
6. A T
Adenine Thymine
C G
Cytosine Guanine
7. Each base will only bond with one
other specific base.
Adenine (A)
Form a base
Thymine (T)
pair.
Cytosine (C)
Form a base
Guanine (G)
pair.
8. Base-Pair Rule
Adenine <==> Thymine
Guanine <==> Cytosine
The sides of the DNA
ladder are phosphate &
sugar held together by
hydrogen bonds
9. DNA Structure
Because of this complementary base
pairing, the order of the bases in one
strand determines the order of the
bases in the other strand.
10. A T
G
T A
G
A T
G C
T A
11. Base Pair Rule
One side: A T A T C A T G C G G G
Other side:
12. DNA Structure
To crack the genetic code found in
DNA we need to look at the sequence
of bases.
The bases are arranged in triplets
called codons.
AGG-CTC-AAG-TCC-TAG
TCC-GAG-TTC-AGG-ATC
13. DNA Structure
A gene is a section of DNA that codes for
a protein.
Each unique gene has a unique sequence
of bases.
This unique sequence of bases will code
for the production of a unique protein.
It is these proteins and combination of
proteins that give us a unique phenotype.
14. How the Code Works
The combination of A,T,G,C determines what
traits you might have, for ex.
C A T C A T = purple hair
T A C T A C = yellow hair
15. Think of the bases of DNA like
Letters form words....
Words form sentences....
*endless
combinations
16.
17. Let's Review What We Know
About DNA
1. DNA stands for: De _____ ribo ______ acid
2. What is the shape of DNA? _______________
3. Adenine always pairs with _______________
4. The sides of the DNA ladder are deoxyribose and _____
5. Guanine always pairs with _____________
6. What is the complimentary sequence: A A T G C A
7. The two sides of DNA are held together by _______
8. DNA is composed of repeating subunits called
9. What are the 4 bases that make up the rungs of the DNA
ladder? _______________________________________
18.