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Protein Synthesis
How your cells use DNA to make
proteins
A white kangaroo?
What gives?
A white kangaroo is
pretty rare. In order to
understand how
something like this
happens, you need to
understand how genes
on a chromosome
determine an
organism’s inherited
traits.
Before we begin…
Remember just how small cells are.
Before we begin…
Remember just how small cells are.
Protein Synthesis
Where does it all begin?
Trillions of cells together make up
the various parts of your body.
Inside each cell are many parts
each having a different function.
Protein Synthesis
Inside the nucleus of each cell, there are chromosomes. Each chromosome
has a copy of ALL the genetic information for the whole organism.
Protein Synthesis
What is that chromosome made of anyway? It is pretty much one great big
macromolecule of DNA all coiled up on itself. If you stretched it out, you could
identify the double helix shape and the “ladder rungs”.
Protein Synthesis
What are those rungs made of? Each rung is a “nitrogenous base” made of
carbon and nitrogen rings.
Nitrogenous Bases
Each nitrogenous base
is made of only 14 to
16 atoms. These
things are very small!
But, they bond to each
other specifically:
Adenine to Thymine,
and Guanine to
Cytosine. In this way,
they are like puzzle
pieces.
Lets not forget
Just how small atoms are compared to the cell…
Lets not forget
Just how small atoms are compared to the cell…
Protein Synthesis
All that goes on inside the nucleus of a cell is on the nanoscale. Supersmall!
Protein Synthesis
Keep in mind that DNA is a big, or “macro”, molecule made of atoms.
Even though DNA is called a “macro” molecule does not mean that it is big enough to
be seen on the macro scale. It is still nanoscopic! The sides of the ladder are made of
pentose sugars (the blue shape), made of a ring of carbons, and a phosphate group,
made of one phosphate atom and some oxygen atoms.
Protein Synthesis
Keep in mind that DNA is a big, or “macro”, molecule made of atoms.
Even though DNA is called a “macro” molecule does not mean that it is big enough to
be seen on the macro scale. It is still nanoscopic! The sides of the ladder are made of
pentose sugars (the blue shape), made of a ring of carbons, and a phosphate group,
made of one phosphate atom and some oxygen atoms.
Protein Synthesis
Keep in mind that DNA is a big, or “macro”, molecule made of atoms.
The nitrogenous bases are made of either one or two carbon and nitrogen rings in a
specific arrangement. Again, there are four nitrogenous bases in DNA: Adenine,
Thymine, Guanine and Cytosine.
Protein Synthesis
Keep in mind that DNA is a big, or “macro”, molecule made of atoms.
This model shows the sugar and phosphate group as long sides of the “ladder”, and
the nitrogenous bases as the “rungs” of the ladder as colored strips.
Protein Synthesis
Keep in mind that DNA is a big, or “macro”, molecule made of atoms.
While this model shows the individual atoms.