DNA- THE CODE OF LIFE
o Nucleic acids = molecule of life
o Have the capacity to store the information that controls cellular activity and the
development of an entire organism
o Controlling the synthesis of proteins
o Proteins not only make up much of the structure of the body but, as enzymes
are proteins, they also control the chemical processes inside cells
Two nucleic acids found in cells are:
1. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
2. Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA)
Who discovered the structure of DNA?
• Rosalind Franklin
• Maurice Wilkins Died at 37 from cancer
• Francis Crick
• James Watson
What about genetic replication?
- Watson and Crick developed their ideas about genetic replication
- The pairing of the bases; A=T and C=G
- This meant that when the two strands separated each served as a template
for a complementary new chain i.e. the strand could replicate
- Francis Crick and Sydney Brenner provided genetic proof that a triplet code
was used in reading genetic material in DNA, the transferring of this info from
the nucleus to the cytoplasm via RNA to where proteins are made
- The two had shown that in DNA, form is function: the double-stranded
molecule could both produce exact copies of itself (replicate) and carry
genetic information
Who won the Nobel prize?
Þ Watson, Crick and Wilkins won the Nobel Prize for physiology/medicine
Þ Franklin had died
Where is DNA found?
Ø DNA is found mainly in the nucleus of a cell where it forms an important part
of the chromosomes that make up the chromatin network
Chromatin: chromosomal material made up of DNA, RNA and histone proteins as found in a
non-dividing cell
, DNA- THE CODE OF LIFE
Ø DNA molecule is coiled so that these long structures can fit inside nucleus
What is extranucleur DNA?
- Small amounts of DNA are found outside the nucleus in mitochondria in plants
and animals and in chloroplasts in plant = extranucleur DNA
How is DNA made up?
§ Shape of DNA is like a long, twisted ladder
§ Two strands twist to form a stable, 3-dimensional double helix
What units make up DNA?
- A DNA molecule is a long chain (polymer) made up of small units (monomers)
i.e. building blocks called nucleotides
- Each nucleotide is made up of a:
o Sugar molecule – deoxyribose (S)
o Phosphate molecule (P)
o Nitrogenous base which may be:
o Nucleic acids = molecule of life
o Have the capacity to store the information that controls cellular activity and the
development of an entire organism
o Controlling the synthesis of proteins
o Proteins not only make up much of the structure of the body but, as enzymes
are proteins, they also control the chemical processes inside cells
Two nucleic acids found in cells are:
1. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
2. Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA)
Who discovered the structure of DNA?
• Rosalind Franklin
• Maurice Wilkins Died at 37 from cancer
• Francis Crick
• James Watson
What about genetic replication?
- Watson and Crick developed their ideas about genetic replication
- The pairing of the bases; A=T and C=G
- This meant that when the two strands separated each served as a template
for a complementary new chain i.e. the strand could replicate
- Francis Crick and Sydney Brenner provided genetic proof that a triplet code
was used in reading genetic material in DNA, the transferring of this info from
the nucleus to the cytoplasm via RNA to where proteins are made
- The two had shown that in DNA, form is function: the double-stranded
molecule could both produce exact copies of itself (replicate) and carry
genetic information
Who won the Nobel prize?
Þ Watson, Crick and Wilkins won the Nobel Prize for physiology/medicine
Þ Franklin had died
Where is DNA found?
Ø DNA is found mainly in the nucleus of a cell where it forms an important part
of the chromosomes that make up the chromatin network
Chromatin: chromosomal material made up of DNA, RNA and histone proteins as found in a
non-dividing cell
, DNA- THE CODE OF LIFE
Ø DNA molecule is coiled so that these long structures can fit inside nucleus
What is extranucleur DNA?
- Small amounts of DNA are found outside the nucleus in mitochondria in plants
and animals and in chloroplasts in plant = extranucleur DNA
How is DNA made up?
§ Shape of DNA is like a long, twisted ladder
§ Two strands twist to form a stable, 3-dimensional double helix
What units make up DNA?
- A DNA molecule is a long chain (polymer) made up of small units (monomers)
i.e. building blocks called nucleotides
- Each nucleotide is made up of a:
o Sugar molecule – deoxyribose (S)
o Phosphate molecule (P)
o Nitrogenous base which may be:
