GENERAL BIOLOGY 2

Worksheet No. 2, Semester 1, Quarter 1

I. LEARNING SKILLS
After going through this lesson, you are expected to:
A. describe the composition of the genetic material.
B. describe DNA replication and protein synthesis.

II. LEARNING CONCEPT

DNA: the Genetic Material

A gene is a segment of DNA that encodes a unique protein that
performs a specialized function in the cell. A gene can store information and
capable of self-replication and can undergo mutations. But how does
something so small contain all the genetic information of an organism? The
answer to this question lies in the chemical makeup of DNA.

The Chemical Composition of DNA

DNA, which stands for

deoxyribonucleic acid, is found within the
nucleus of every cell. Your DNA is like your
thumbprint. It is yours and yours alone.
Unless you have an identical twin, no one
else in this world has exactly the same DNA,
since your DNA holds the genetic
information needed to make and control
all cellular activities within a living
organism.
DNA contains four bases: adenine (A),
guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). Figure 1. The building
A and G are double-ring structures called block of DNA
purines; T and C are single-ring structures
called pyrimidines. The nucleotide is the
building block of DNA. It is made up of four bases, a five-carbon sugar
deoxyribose, and a phosphate group.

Watson and Crick Model

In 1953, James Watson and Frances Crick worked out that DNA is like a
“double helix”. The DNA is double helix because of the two strands which wind
around each other. The double helix DNA is like a winding staircase. The two
sugar-phosphate backbones make up the sides and the base pairs make up the
rungs or steps of the winding staircase.

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 Figure 2. Watson and Crick Model of DNA

Why is DNA Important?

All the characteristics that you have are affected by the DNA in your cells.
It controls the color of your eyes, color of your hair, complexion, height and many
more. These characteristics are traits that can be inherited just like those in pea
plants. How traits appear in you depends on the kind of proteins your cells make.
DNA stores the blueprints for making proteins.

How DNA Copies Itself

Replication is the process by which a double-stranded DNA molecule is
copied to produce two identical DNA molecules. DNA replication is one of the
most basic processes that occurs within a cell. Each time a cell divides, the two
resulting daughter cells must contain exactly the same genetic information, or
DNA, as the parent cell. To accomplish this, each strand of existing DNA acts as
a template for replication. The following are the events while DNA copies itself:

Step 1. An enzyme breaks the bond between the nitrogen bases. The
two strands of DNA split.
Step 2. The bases attached to each strand then pair up with the free
nucleotides found in the cytoplasm.
Step 3. The complementary nucleotides join to form new strands. Two
new DNA molecules, each with a parent strand and each with a new
daughter strand, are formed.

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 As seen in Figure 3,
base pair C is paired
with G and base pair
A is paired with T, vice
versa.

Figure 3. DNA Replication

What is RNA?
RNA stands for ribonucleic acid.
Like DNA, RNA is a long strand made up
of building blocks called nucleotides.
But unlike DNA, RNA has a single chain
and does not entwine in a double helix.
Table 1 shows how DNA is compared to
RNA. Figure 3 illustrates the structure
of RNA. RNA is a single stranded
molecule with no helix. The four bases
are guanine, cytosine, adenine, and
uracil instead of thymine.
RNA is a single stranded
molecule with no helix. The four bases
are guanine, cytosine, adenine, and
uracil instead of thymine.
Figure 3. RNA Structure

Table 1. Difference between DNA and RNA

DNA RNA
Sugar Deoxyribose Ribose
Bases A, T, G, C A, U, G, C
Strands Double strands Single strand
Helix Yes No

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 ACTIVITY (DNA Replication)
Direction: Provide the correct base pair on the columns provided.

Translating the code of life: From DNA to RNA to protein

Proteins control the activities of the cell, and so the life of the entire
organism. But how does DNA make a unique protein that will perform special
function?

The following are the steps in making proteins:

1. The DNA is inside the nucleus. It contains the information for making
proteins. This information has to be copied or transcribed by the RNA called
messenger RNA (mRNA).
2. The copied information called codon, which is made up of three consecutive
nitrogenous bases, is sent to the cytoplasm where it will enter the ribosomal
RNA.
3. Once inside the ribosome, translation begins, meaning, the transfer of RNA
(tRNA) from the cytoplasm starts to bring the anticodon, the three
consecutive nitrogenous pairs, that fits the mRNA codon. A codon is a base
triplet of nucleotides in mRNA which calls for an amino acid. Each anticodon
represents one type of amino acid. Amino acids are the basic units of protein
molecules.
4. When all codons are converted into amino acids, translation stops and a
protein molecule is produced.

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 Figure 4. Protein Synthesis
The flow of information from DNA to RNA to proteins is one of the
fundamental principles of molecular biology. It is so important and it is called the
“central dogma”.

Figure 5. The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

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 Figure 6. Genetic Code/Codon Chart

Always remember this: genes make proteins, proteins make cells, cells
make tissues, tissues make organs, organs make organ systems, and
organ systems make you!

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EXERCISE: Write your answer on a separate answer sheet.

1. Fill the complimentary DNA strand of the given DNA strand with the
correct base pair.

T A C G G C G T C C C G T A G G A C A G T
DNA

2. Fill in the correct mRNA bases by transcribing the complimentary DNA

strand.

mRNA

3. Translate the mRNA to tRNA and find the correct amino acid using the
codon chart on page 6.

tRNA

Amino Acids

III. ASSESSMENT
A. Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write the chosen
letter on a separate sheet of paper.

1. A codon is composed of:

A. 1 base C. 3 bases
B. 2 bases D. 4 bases

2. A nucleotide is composed of:

A. base only C. sugar only
B. protein only D. sugar, phosphate and base

3. The component in the nucleus of a cell that codes and stores genetic
information is called:
A. DNA C. Nucleoplasm
B. Nucleolus D. RNA

4. Which of the following describes DNA replication?

A. parallel C. conservative
B. anti-parallel D. semi-conservative

5. What would be the complimentary DNA strand of this base pairs,

ATGCGGCCAAAT?
A. TACGCCGGTTTA C. UACGCCGGUUUA
B. ATGCGGCCAAAT D. TAGGCCGGUUUT

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 B. Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Describe the composition of genetic material.

2. Describe DNA replication.

C. Problem Solving
1. Fill the complimentary DNA strand of the given DNA strand with the
correct base pair.

T A C C G C T T C G G C A A C T C C T G T
DNA

2. Fill in the correct mRNA bases by transcribing the complimentary DNA

strand.

mRNA

3. Translate the mRNA to tRNA and find the correct amino acid using the
codon chart on page 6.

tRNA

Amino Acids

IV. REFERENCE

MODULE 14-Genetics: The Study of Inherited Traits. Project EASE-Biology.

BUREAU OF SECONDARY EDUCATION.Department of Education

Nature Publishing Group. (n.d.). Nature news.

https://www.nature.com/scitable/ topicpage/cells-can-replicate-their-dna-
precisely-6524830/.

What is the difference between the original and the replicated strand? Quora. (n.d.).
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-the-original-and-
the-replicated-strand.

Nucleotides and nucleic acids. the science hive. (n.d.).

https://www.thesciencehive.co.uk/nucleotides-and-nucleic-acids.

DNA structure: Watson and Crick's model of DNA - JAVATPOINT.

www.javatpoint.com.
(n.d.). https://www.javatpoint.com/dna-structure.

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Admin. (2021, March 10). Rna - structure, functions and types of rna. BYJUS.
https://byjus.com/biology/structure-of-rna/.

Unknown. (n.d.). Importance of translation in protein synthesis. Importance of

Translation in Protein Synthesis.
http://lindsayhighbiologyproject.blogspot.com /2013/02/importance-of-
translation-in-protein.html.

Lab manual exercise #3. (n.d.).

https://www2.palomar.edu/users/warmstrong/lmexer3.htm#codonchart.

Prepared by:

ANNIE MAE T. ZAFE

Teacher I
Catanduanes National High School

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