DNA: THE CODE FOR LIFE
A DNA molecule: the structure of the DNA molecule is a double stranded
helix that is wound around a histone protein. It is found in the nucleus
of every cell in the human body in the form of chromosomes.
The DNA molecule is made up of three important elements; Deoxyribose sugar
molecule, nitrogenous base and a phosphate molecule.
There are four different nitrogenous bases that
are found in the DNA molecule; Adenine, Thymine,
Cytosine and Guanine.
Adenine and Guanine are considered Purines,
Cytosine and Thymine are considered Pyrimidines.
Adenine and Thymine; Cytosine and Guanine can
only ever bond to each other due to the number of
hydrogen bonds that they have
Important people in the discovery of the structure of the DNA molecule:
Watson, Crick and Wilkins are the three men that won a Noble Peace Prize
for discovering that the DNA molecule was a double stranded helix.
Rosalin Franklin also played a significant role in this discovery but
she died before they won the Noble Peace Prize so she was not included
in it.
Difference between DNA and RNA molecules:
DNA:
1. Has deoxyribose sugar molecules
2. Has Thymine as a nitrogenous base
3. Double helix structure.
4. DNA carries the code for protein synthesis in the sequence of
nitrogenous bases.
5. Found only in the nucleus.
RNA:
1. Has ribose sugar molecules.
2. Has Uracil in replacement of Thymine.
3. Single stranded structure
4. Transcribes the code from DNA and takes it to the ribosomes found in
the cytoplasm, translates it and forms the correct amino acid chains that
make up proteins.
5. Found in both nucleus and cytoplasm.
, RNA
RNA, like DNA is a nucleic acid. RNA is the molecule that allows for
protein synthesis to be successful and efficient in the human body.
RNA is a single stranded molecule that is found in three different forms;
messenger RNA, ribosomal RNA and transfer RNA.
Each different form of RNA plays a significant role in formation of
proteins.
Structural differences between mRNA and tRNA:
mRNA:
1. mRNA is a liner molecule (straight line).
2. mRNA can contain an unlimited number of nitrogenous bases that it
copies from a DNA strand.
3. mRNA carries nitrogenous bases multiples of three also known as a
CODON.
tRNA:
1. tRNA is a clover leaf shape.
2. tRNA cannot have an unlimited number of nitrogenous bases.
3. tRNA contains three exposed nitrogenous bases also known as a
ANTICODON.
4. tRNA also carries an amino acid that the codon on the mRNA codes for.
A DNA molecule: the structure of the DNA molecule is a double stranded
helix that is wound around a histone protein. It is found in the nucleus
of every cell in the human body in the form of chromosomes.
The DNA molecule is made up of three important elements; Deoxyribose sugar
molecule, nitrogenous base and a phosphate molecule.
There are four different nitrogenous bases that
are found in the DNA molecule; Adenine, Thymine,
Cytosine and Guanine.
Adenine and Guanine are considered Purines,
Cytosine and Thymine are considered Pyrimidines.
Adenine and Thymine; Cytosine and Guanine can
only ever bond to each other due to the number of
hydrogen bonds that they have
Important people in the discovery of the structure of the DNA molecule:
Watson, Crick and Wilkins are the three men that won a Noble Peace Prize
for discovering that the DNA molecule was a double stranded helix.
Rosalin Franklin also played a significant role in this discovery but
she died before they won the Noble Peace Prize so she was not included
in it.
Difference between DNA and RNA molecules:
DNA:
1. Has deoxyribose sugar molecules
2. Has Thymine as a nitrogenous base
3. Double helix structure.
4. DNA carries the code for protein synthesis in the sequence of
nitrogenous bases.
5. Found only in the nucleus.
RNA:
1. Has ribose sugar molecules.
2. Has Uracil in replacement of Thymine.
3. Single stranded structure
4. Transcribes the code from DNA and takes it to the ribosomes found in
the cytoplasm, translates it and forms the correct amino acid chains that
make up proteins.
5. Found in both nucleus and cytoplasm.
, RNA
RNA, like DNA is a nucleic acid. RNA is the molecule that allows for
protein synthesis to be successful and efficient in the human body.
RNA is a single stranded molecule that is found in three different forms;
messenger RNA, ribosomal RNA and transfer RNA.
Each different form of RNA plays a significant role in formation of
proteins.
Structural differences between mRNA and tRNA:
mRNA:
1. mRNA is a liner molecule (straight line).
2. mRNA can contain an unlimited number of nitrogenous bases that it
copies from a DNA strand.
3. mRNA carries nitrogenous bases multiples of three also known as a
CODON.
tRNA:
1. tRNA is a clover leaf shape.
2. tRNA cannot have an unlimited number of nitrogenous bases.
3. tRNA contains three exposed nitrogenous bases also known as a
ANTICODON.
4. tRNA also carries an amino acid that the codon on the mRNA codes for.
