The Structure of

DNA
Section 8.2
What is DNA?
• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) determines an organisms traits.
• Complete set of instructions for manufacturing all proteins in an
organism.
• Proteins or Enzymes are needed to carry out every possible function.
DNA is composed of Four types of Nucleotides
• NUCLEOTIDES: The small unit, or monomers, that make up DNA.
• Nucleotides have three parts:
• 1. A five carbon sugar (Deoxyribose)
• 2. A phosphate group (1 Phosphorus and 4 Oxygen)
• 3. A Nitrogenous base: A carbon ring structure with one or more atoms of
nitrogen.
• The only difference between the four types of nucleotides is in
their nitrogenous base.

• The Four bases in DNA are:

• 1. Adenine
• 2. Guanine
• 3. Cytosine
• 4. Thymine
• Nucleotides join together
to form long chains of
DNA.
• The phosphate group and
the sugar form the
backbone.
 Watson and Crick
• James Watson and Francis
Crick were credited with the
idea that DNA was double
stranded and held together
by nitrogenous bases.
• Hydrogen bonds hold bases
together and can only form
between certain bases.
• Adenine will always bond
with Thymine
• Cytosine will always bond
with Guanine.
Rosalind Franklin
• Rosalind Franklin was the true
scientist who first discovered
the double helix shape,
however her results were
informally leaked out and
Watson and Crick beat
Franklin to its publication.
Double Helix
• Watson and Crick published a
paper in the journal nature which
shows the model of DNA as
double helix.

• Double Helix: model in which two

strands of DNA wind around
each other like a twisted ladder.

• The strands are complimentary-

They fit together and are
opposite.
• .
Nucleotides always pair in the same way!
• Base Pairing Rules:

• 1. Thymine always pairs with Adenine (A-T)

• 2. Cytosine always pairs with Guanine (C-G)
The Importance of Nucleotide Sequences
• The Chromosomes of all organisms are made up of the same
four nucleotides.

• Differences in organisms result from the sequence (or the order)

of the four nucleotides.
What is RNA?
• RNA (ribonucleic acid) is a molecule that is a “worker” in protein
synthesis.

• RNA takes instructions from DNA on how protein should be

assembled and build proteins amino acid by amino acid.
 RNA Versus DNA
• RNA is single stranded DNA is double stranded
• RNA’s sugar is ribose DNA’s Sugar is deoxyribose
• RNA contains Uracil DNA contains Thymine
The Role of RNA
• RNA molecules are the workers for protein synthesis.
• RNA takes instructions from DNA and assembles proteins.
Three Types of RNA:
• 1. Messenger (mRNA):
• Brings instructions from DNA in the nucleus to the cells factory floor, the
cytoplasm.
• 2. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA):
• Binds to the mRNA and uses the instructions to make amino acids in the
correct order.

• 3. Transfer RNA (tRNA):

• The supplier
• Delivers amino acids to the ribosomes to be assembled into a protein.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kK2zwjRV0M
Transcription
• Transcription: The process in the cells nucleus where enzymes
make an RNA copy of a DNA strand.

• The difference between replication and transcription is that

transcription results in one single-stranded RNA molecule rather
than a double stranded DNA molecule.
 The Genetic Code
• The nucleotide sequence transcribed from DNA to RNA acts as a
message for building proteins.

• Scientists figured out that three nitrogenous bases of mRNA

code for one amino acid. These groups are known as codons.
• Example: U-U-U codes for the amino acid phenylalanine.

• There are 64 possible combinations of sequences using the 3

bases.

• All organisms use the same genetic code.

• What does this tell us about evolution?
Translation: From mRNA to protein
• Translation: The process of converting information in mRNA to
proteins.

• Takes place in the ribosomes in the cytoplasm.

The Role of tRNA
• tRNA must bring 20 amino acids dissolved in the cytoplasm to
the ribosomes.

• Each tRNA molecule attaches to only one amino acid.

Translation Step by Step
• 1. A ribosome attaches to the mRNA and a tRNA molecule
carrying amino acids approach the ribosome.

• 2. The codon AUG (start codon) attaches to the ribosomes says

“Lets make proteins!”

• 3. A new tRNA molecule carrying an amino acid attaches to the

ribosome and mRNA strand next to the previous tRNA molecule
• 4. A peptide bond is formed between the 2 amino acids which
triggers the ribosome to move down to the next codon.

• 5. The tRNA no longer carrying the amino acid is released and

a new tRNA molecule can attach to the ribosome and mRNA
strand.

• 6. A chain of amino acids is formed until a stop codon is

reached.
• Transcription
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=983lhh20rGY
• Translation
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bLEDd-PSTQ