DNA Structure
DNA Structure
DNA Structure
Why?
Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA is the molecule of heredity. It contains the genetic blueprint for life. For
organisms to grow and repair damaged cells, each cell must be capable of accurately copying itself. So how
does the structure of DNA allow it to copy itself so accurately?
T A
Deoxyribose Nitrogen-
sugar containing
A T
base
Nitrogen Bases
Adenine
G C
Thymine
CG
I
Guanine
Cytosine
bases CAT461
d. Name the four nitrogen bases shown in Model 1.
Adenine
A ThymineCtl CytosineCal Guanine
2. DNA is often drawn in a “ladder model.” Locate this drawing in Model 1.
a. Circle a single nucleotide on each side of the ladder model of DNA.
bases
c. What parts of the nucleotides make up the sides (backbone) of the “ladder”?
sugar phosphate
d. Look at the bottom and top of the “ladder” in Model 1. Are the rungs parallel (the ends of
the strands match) or antiparallel (the ends of the strands are opposites)?
A F T G G E C FE
4. Refer to Model 1. When one nucleotide contains adenine, what type of base is the adenine
attached to on the opposite nucleotide strand?
Thymine
5. The two strands of DNA are held together with hydrogen bonds between the nitrogen bases.
These are weak bonds between polar molecules. How many hydrogen bonds connect the two
bases from Question 4?
guanine
7. How many hydrogen bonds connect the two bases from Question 6?
3 dashes
8. With your group, use three
DIE
a complete sentence to write a rule for how the bases are arranged in the
ladder model of DNA.
The adenine t thymine bases always pairtogether Guanine t cytosine also pair together
Read This!
Erwin Chargaff (1905–2002), an Austrian-American biochemist, investigated the ratio of nucleotide bases
found in the DNA from a variety of organisms. From his research, as well as research by Rosalind Frank-
lin and Maurice Wilkins, Watson and Crick developed the complementary base-pair rule during their
race to discover the structure of DNA. The complementary base-pair rule states that adenine and thymine
form pairs across two strands, and guanine and cytosine form pairs across two strands.
9. Fill in the complementary bases on the strand below according to the base-pair rule.
A T C C A G
T A G G T C
10. The ladder model of DNA is a simplified representation of the actual structure and shape of a
DNA molecule. In reality, the strands of DNA form a double helix. Refer to the double helix
diagram in Model 1 and describe its shape using a complete sentence.
A double helix is two twisted back bones made of alternating sugar t phosphate
The basepairs connect the backbones
in themiddle of the double helix
2 POGIL Activities for High School Biology
™
Model 2 – DNA Replication
Direction of DNA
helicase
Free Nucleotides
DNA helicase
11. Examine Model 2. Number the steps below in order to describe the replication of DNA in a cell.
4
______ Hydrogen bonds between nucleotides form.
______ Hydrogen bonds between nucleotides break.
d3
______ Strands of DNA separate.
______ Free nucleotides are attracted to exposed bases on the loose strands of DNA.
12. Locate the DNA helicase on Model 2.
a. What type of biological molecule is DNA helicase?
enzyme
b. What is the role of DNA helicase in the replication of DNA?
S
Chromosomes are condensed.
G2 Matching sisgter chromatids are
connected by a centromere.
If the chromatin were (Beginning of M)
condensed, homologous
chromosomes would
be visible. (End of G1)
M
G1
17. According to Model 3, what term refers to loose DNA inside of a nucleus?
chromatin
18. During what part of the cell cycle is the DNA in a cell’s nucleus replicated?
s phase
19. During what part of the cell cycle is the DNA in a cell condensed into chromosomes?
m phase
20. Replicated chromosomes are often illustrated as an X shape to match how they look in real life
just before cell division.
a. According to Model 3, which of the following diagrams correctly show an original set of
homologous chromosomes (grey) and their sister chromatids (black)—the replicated portion?
0
b. What structure holds the two sister chromatids together as they prepare for cell division?
centromere
DNA Structure and Replication 5