DNA (Deoxyribonucliec acid) the basis of your inherited traits

What does the DNA make up?

• genes

• chromosomes

What does the term DNA mean and stand for?

• Deoxyribonucleic Acid

• The basis of your inherited traits

• Nucleic acid with an oxygen atom missing in the sugar molecule

• Compared to RNA, it is much more stable, resulting in less mutations

Where is DNA found?

• In the cell nucleus

• A small amount is also found in the mitochondria (decreases ability with age)

What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

• DNA is stable (less mutations) and contains a deoxyribose sugar (missing an oxygen atom)

• RNA is unstable and contains ribose sugar

What is the backbone of DNA made out of and what is its purpose?

• Sugar and Phosphate

• To protect the DNA from mutations

Which nucleotides bond together?

• Adenine and Thymine (2 bonding spots)

• Guanine and Cytosine (3 bonding spots)

What kind of bond is used to pair the bases together and why?

• Hydrogen bonds are used to pair the bases together

• They are the weakest bond

• Not a lot of energy is needed to read the DNA

What is the difference between a monomer and a polymer?

• Mer: unit

• Monomer: One unit (nucleotide)

• Polymer: Multiple units (DNA)

How is the DNA molecule structured?

• Made of two strands twisted together in a double helix (double coil)

• Twists because of chemical interactions between positive and negative chemicals that attract each other

What are nucleotides?

• “Building blocks”

• Four kinds

• Each nucleotide has a sugar, a phosphate and a base (ATCG)

What do the phosphate and sugar form in DNA?

• Backbone

What do the bases form in DNA?

• rungs

What is Gene regulation?

• The ability to turn genes on and off

What does a strand of nucleotides look like?