DNA Structure and Function

Chapter 6

1.1 Impacts/Issues
Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty
Making clones (exact genetic copies) of adult
animals is now a common practice in research
and animal husbandry

6.2 Chromosomes

A eukaryotic chromosome is a molecule of DNA

together with associated proteins
Chromosome
Structure made of DNA and associated proteins
Carries part or all of a cells genetic information

Chromosome Structure

Sister chromatid
One of two attached members of a duplicated
eukaryotic chromosome

Centromere
Constricted region in a eukaryotic chromosome
where sister chromatids are attached

Chromosome Structure
Proteins organize DNA structurally
Allow chromosomes to pack tightly

Histone
Type of protein that structurally organizes
eukaryotic chromosomes

Nucleosome
A length of DNA wound around a spool of histone
proteins

Chromosome Structure

Chromosome Number
A eukaryotic cells DNA is divided into a
characteristic number of chromosomes
Chromosome number
Sum of all chromosomes in a cell of a given type
A human body cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes

Diploid
Cells having two of each type of chromosome
characteristic of the species (2n)

Examples of Chromosome Number

Types of Chromosomes
There are two types of eukaryotic chromosomes:
autosomes and sex chromosomes
Autosomes
Paired chromosomes with the same length,
shape, centromere location, and genes
Any chromosome other than a sex chromosome

Sex chromosomes
Members of a pair of chromosomes that differ
between males and females

Sex Chromosomes:
Sex Determination in Humans

diploid
reproductive
cell in female

diploid
reproductive
cell in male

XX

XY

eggs

sperm

XX

XY

XX

XY

union of sperm and

egg at fertilization

Stepped Art
Fig. 6-3a, p. 104

Karyotype

Karyotyping reveals characteristics of an

individuals chromosomes
Karyotype
Image of an individuals complement of
chromosomes arranged by size, length, shape,
and centromere location

Constructing a Karyotype

6.3 Fame and Glory

Erwin Chargaff
Discovered the relationships between DNA bases

Rosalind Franklin
Discovered the basic structure of DNA by x-ray
crystallography

James Watson and Francis Crick

Built the first accurate model of a DNA molecule

Key Players
Rosalind Franklin, Maurice Wilkins, James
Watson, and Francis Crick

The Double Helix

A DNA molecule consists of two strands of
nucleotide monomers running in opposite
directions and coiled into a double helix
DNA nucleotide
A five-carbon sugar (deoxyribose)
Three phosphate groups
One nitrogen-containing base (adenine, thymine,
guanine, or cytosine)

The Double Helix

Two double-helix strands are held together by

hydrogen bonds between nucleotide bases
Chargaffs rules
Bases of the two DNA strands in a double helix
pair in a consistent way: A = T and C = G
Proportions of A and G vary among species

The Four DNA Nucleotides

DNA Structure

Patterns of Base Pairing

The order of bases (DNA sequence) varies
among species and among individuals
Each species has characteristic DNA sequences

DNA sequence
The order of nucleotide bases in a strand of DNA

6.4 DNA Replication and Repair

A cell replicates its DNA before it divides
Each strand of the double helix serves as a
template for synthesis of a new, complementary
strand of DNA
DNA replication results in two double-stranded
DNA molecules identical to the parent

DNA Replication and Repair

During DNA replication, the double-helix unwinds
DNA polymerase uses each strand as a template
to assemble new, complementary strands of DNA
from free nucleotides
DNA ligase seals any gaps to form a continuous
strand

DNA Replication and Repair

DNA replication
Duplication of a cells DNA before cell division

DNA polymerase
DNA replication enzyme; assembles a new strand
of DNA based on sequence of a DNA template

DNA ligase
Enzyme that seals breaks in double-stranded DNA

DNA Replication

1) The two strands of a DNA molecule are

complementary: their nucleotides match up
according to base-pairing rules (G to C, T to A).

2) As replication starts, the two strands of

DNA unwind at many sites along the length
of the molecule.

3) Each parent strand serves as a template

for assembly of a new DNA strand from
nucleotides, according to base-pairing
rules.

4) DNA ligase seals any gaps that remain

between bases of the new DNA, so a
continuous strand forms. The base sequence
of each half-old, half-new DNA molecule is
identical to that of the parent.

Stepped Art
Fig. 6-8, p. 108

Animation: DNA replication

DNA Replication: The Double Helix

Checking for Mistakes

DNA repair mechanisms fix damaged DNA

Proofreading by DNA polymerase corrects most
base-pairing errors

DNA repair mechanisms

Any of several processes by which enzymes
repair DNA damage

Mutations

Uncorrected errors in DNA replication may

become mutations
Mutation
A permanent change in DNA sequence

6.5 Cloning Adult Animals

Reproductive cloning technologies produce an

exact genetic copy of an individual (clone)
Reproductive cloning
Technology that produces genetically identical
individuals

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)
Method of reproductive cloning in which nuclear
DNA from an adult somatic cell is transferred into
an unfertilized, enucleated egg

Therapeutic cloning
Using SCNT to produce human embryos for
research

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

Clones
Clone produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer

Digging into Data:

The Hershey Chase Experiments

Fig. 6-12a, p. 113

S remains
outside cells
35

Virus proteins
labeled with 35S
DNA being
injected into
bacterium

Virus DNA
labeled with 32P

P remains
inside cells
32

Labeled DNA
being injected
into bacterium

Fig. 6-12b-c, p. 113