Download DNA

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Date_________________
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DNA
What does DNA mean?
Where do I find DNA?
Why is it important?
How do I use DNA?
DNA Information
*stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid.
*makes up chromosomes w/proteins.
*located in the Nucleus.
*NEVER leaves the nucleus.
*is passed from one generation to the next in chromosomes.
*looks like a ladder, twisted around itself, called a double helix
DNA Timeline Facts…
 Early 1950’s
o 1st picture of DNA taken by Rosalind Franklin using an X-ray machine.
 1953
o DNA structure discovered by James Watson & Francis Crick.
 1962
o Watson, Crick and Franklin received Nobel Prize in Medicine.
Gene
Definition: a short, active section of DNA, which contains the
instructions (code) for building all proteins.
 The code (directions for building the protein) is the
order of bases on DNA.
 Each chromosome is made up of many hundreds of
genes.
 Each gene is made up of hundreds or thousands of
bases long.
DNA Structure
- is composed of many small subunits called
“nucleotides”
Nucleotides are made up of 3 parts:
1. a phosphate
2. deoxyribose sugar
3. nitrogen containing base
Nucleotides are held together by covalent, ester bonds.
*The ladder shape is formed by linking matching bases together.
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Nitrogenous Bases in DNA
1. Adenine
2. Guanine
3. Cytosine
4. Thymine
Complementary Base Pair Rules:
says, “Each base has a complement or partner in
DNA.”.
*Adenine only bonds w/ Thymine
*Guanine only bonds w/ Cytosine
*Hydrogen bonds between the bases hold the strands together.
Shape of DNA
The ladder is twisted into a shape scientists call a “Double Helix”
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