DNA Notes
DNA Notes
Both DNA and RNA are large molecules. They are made
of a number of smaller units or monomers called
nucleotides.
Each nucleotide is made up of: a nitrogenous base,
Pentose sugar (deoxyribose in DNA and ribose sugar in
RNA), and phosphate ion
NUCLEOTIDES
Phosphate
Nitrogenous
Base
Pentose
Sugar
FUNCTIONS OF DNA
Nucleus
Chromosomes
Instructions to make your whole body and keep
it working is contained in DNA
• Instructions is called genetic code
• The DNA in your genes tells the cell which
amino acids (protein building blocks) must
combine to make a protein. It also gives
instructions in which sequence the amino
acids must combine.
• Thus, DNA provides the blueprint of all life in
a living body.
• Let us investigate how that this happens.
DEOXYRIBOSE NUCLEIC ACID
11
SEPT. 2007
DNA STRUCTURE
17
SEPT. 2007
REMEMBER
DNA
T–A
G-C
DNA STRUCTURE
A T
C G
T A
C G
A T
G C
T A
DNA STRUCTURE
To crack the genetic code found in DNA we need to look at the
sequence of bases.
AGG-CTC-AAG-TCC-TAG
TCC-GAG-TTC-AGG-ATC
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE
THAT AN ALPHABET WITH
ONLY FOUR LETTERS CAN
MAKE SOMETHING AS
WONDERFUL AND
COMPLEX AS A PERSON
HISTORY ON DNA DISCOVERY
James Watson and Francis crick at Cambridge university, London
and two other scientists Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins
carried out researches on DNA structure. Rosalind discovered that
DNA was double helix in structure from the x-ray extract film.
Maurice disliked Rosalind and showed James the x- ray extract which
helped them to carry out their research. Therefore Watson Crick
discovered that DNA have same amount of Cytosine and guanine
and same amount of Thymine and adenine. This gave them an idea of
complementary base pairing.. They also discovered that DNA can
make a copy of itself through DNA replication. In 1953 Watson and
Crick said that DNA is double helix in structure with complementary
base pairing. Rosalind died of cancer in 1958. in 1962, Watson ,
Crick and Maurice won the DNA noble price. If Rosalind did not die
of cancer she was going to get the noble price not Maurice.
DNA REPLICATION
Double helix DNA unwinds.
Weak hydrogen bonds break.
The two DNA strands separate
Each strand serves as a template
to form a new strand by attaching to free nucleotides to form
complimentary strands. A-T C-G
Each strand becomes a double helix
The result is two genetically identical DNA molecules.
Sometimes mistakes happens – mutation
Mutations is important in evolution
DNA REPLICATION
Unzip
into two
single
strands
New bases
attached
Free nucleotides in themselves in
nucleoplasm the correct
place of each
strand
Two identical strands are formed
Each strand now becomes a double helix.
Strand 1 Strand 2
Questions on the DNA Molecule
1
G 2
3 T
5. The bacteria
2. A piece is cut out using enzymes reproduce, making
as ‘chemical scissors’ clones of themselves
3. A cell is taken
from a human
pancreas. The gene 4. The insulin gene
for insulin is cut is put into the ring
from the of bacteria DNA
chromosome
PROTEIN SYNTHESIS
IMPORTANCE OF PROTEINS
Proteins play essential roles in the cells of all
living creatures they serve as building blocks
of cells, control chemical reactions, and
transport materials to and from cells. Proteins
are composed of long chains of amino acids.
The specific sequence of amino acids in a
chain determines the exact function of the
protein.
DNA MUST REPLICATE
TRANSLATION
TRANSCRIPTION
mRNA moves to
ribosome r RNA
Free amino
acids
tRNA brings
amino acid to
ribosome
Ribosome
incorporati
ng amino
mRNA acid in
being protein
translated chain
mRNA ATTACHED TO THE RIBOSOME
Prophase 1
Metaphase 1
Anaphase 1:
Metaphase II
Anaphase II
Epicanthic fold
Open mouth
Protruding tongue
Broad neck
Small
underdeveloped
ears set low on head
Wide gap between
first and second toe
Incurved
finger
Single palmar
(“simian”) crease
Short broad
hands
CHROMOSOME MUTATIONS
1. Non-disjunction in meiosis
2. Non-disjunction of sex chromosomes
3. Complete non-disjunction and
polyploidy
NON-DISJUNCTION DURING
MEIOSIS
❑Spindle fibre fails during meiosis
Increase in vigour
Resistance to disease