Summary DNA: The Code For Life

CHAPTER ONE

THE CODE OF LIFE
A Eukaryotic Nucleus




Structure of a nucleotide

● Building blocks of Nucleic Acids
● Monomers




Nitrogen Bases:

adenine (A), thymine (T),
cytosine (C), guanine (G),
uracil (U).

Thymine only in DNA
Uracil only in RNA

Purines (2 rings): A, G Pyrimidines(1 ring): C, T, U

, BASE PAIRS: A + T/U (depending on DNA or RNA); G + C


Functions of DNA

● Protein Synthesis
● Transmission of hereditary characteristics


Structure of DNA

● Made of nucleotides
● Deoxyribose sugar
● AGCT
● Double Helix


Genes and Non-Coding DNA

● Genes​: Small portions of coding DNA
● Non-Coding DNA​: Does not carry code. Forms functional RNA.


History of DNA discovery

● Watson + Crick won a nobel prize for the discovery of DNA
● Rosalind Franklin took x-rays of DNA which led to the discovery.


Functions of RNA

● mRNA: carries code from DNA to ribosome
● tRNA: transfers amino acids to anticodons

Codon​: A group of 3 nucleotides


Similarities of DNA and RNA

● Contains a sugar alternating with phosphate
● Contains A, G, C
● Both play roles in protein synthesis