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1 Dna The Code of Life

DNA contains the genetic code for all living organisms. It is made of long strands that coil up into chromosomes. DNA is made of nucleotides, which consist of a phosphate, a sugar (deoxyribose), and one of four nitrogen bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine). The nitrogen bases form rungs of a twisted ladder-like structure known as the double helix, with adenine bonding only with thymine and cytosine bonding only with guanine. This structure was discovered in 1953 by Watson and Crick and provides the genetic code that directs the production of proteins and ultimately all life.

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122 views16 pages

1 Dna The Code of Life

DNA contains the genetic code for all living organisms. It is made of long strands that coil up into chromosomes. DNA is made of nucleotides, which consist of a phosphate, a sugar (deoxyribose), and one of four nitrogen bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine). The nitrogen bases form rungs of a twisted ladder-like structure known as the double helix, with adenine bonding only with thymine and cytosine bonding only with guanine. This structure was discovered in 1953 by Watson and Crick and provides the genetic code that directs the production of proteins and ultimately all life.

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DNA: The Code of Life

Part I
Basic Information on DNA

What is DNAs Job?

It codes for & makes proteins

What are Proteins?


Molecules that make up a large part of our body. (Different
proteins make differences in organisms)

Proteins (polypeptides) are made of LOTS of amino acids held together


by peptide bonds.

Peptide bonds
Protein
(Polypeptide)
Amino acids

What does DNA look like?


Far away?
Long thin strands (threads) called chromatin.

When cells reproduce the chromatin gets


coiled (and thicker) and turns into
chromosomes

Where is DNA?
Prokaryotes
Free in the cells

Eukaryotes
Inside the nucleus

DNA

Why is DNA called


the Code of Life?
It is a code (that must be decoded) to make
proteins,
AND

Proteins make up the bulk of all living


organisms,
THEREFORE

It codes for living organisms (life).

Who Discovered the


DNA Model?
With the help of many
scientists (like Franklin &

Watson &
Crick discovered
the structure of
DNA
Chargaff)

1953

What does DNA look like


Close up?

Double Helix
This looks like a twisted ladder OR spiral
staircase.

What does DNA stand for?


Deoxyribonucleic Acid
But what does that mean?
Deoxy = minus oxygen
Ribo = from ribose (sugar)
Nucleic Acid = made of nucleotides

DNA: The Code of Life


Part II
What are the Parts
of the DNA Model?

Deoxyribonucleic Acid
What is it made of?
A sugar

= deoxyribose

Made of Carbon, Hydrogen and


Oxygen (C, H, O)

A Phosphate
Made of Phosphorous and
Oxygen

These molecules alternate down the


sides of the ladder

Deoxyribonucleic Acid
What is it made of?
Nitrogen Bases
Purines = 2 ring structure, always
pairs with a pyrimidene
Adenine
Guanine

Pyrimidenes = 1 ring structure,


always pairs with a purine
Thymine
Cytosine

Nucleotides:
Made of:
Phosphate
Sugar
Nitrogen Base

DNA Structure
What part of the side pieces are the Nitrogen
Bases bonded to?
Deoxyribose (sugar)
Think about how sticky sugar is!!

Nitrogen bases
= rungs
Attached to
Sugars

DNA Structure
How do the Nitrogen Bases pair up
(bind to one another)?
Adenine
Cytosine

with
with

Thymine
Guanine

They are held together with


Very weak hydrogen bonds (easily broken)

Labeling DNA
Uncoiled Double Helix
Phosphates

Deoxyribose
(sugar)

Hydrogen
bonds

Nitrogen Bases

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