Fundamentals of nucleic acids

Where is DNA contained

DNA is contained in chromosomes, which are found in the nucleus of most cells

what is genetics

the study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics/ the genetic properties or features of an organism

why are genetics important for pharmacists

helps choose medication

helps optimise drug dosage

what is gene therapy

Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. In the future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a patients cells

what is pharmacogenetics

pharmacogenetics is the application of genetic analysis to predict drug response, efficacy and toxicity

what are uses of pharmacogenetics

Drug discovery and development - identifying potential responders and non responders to a drug at an early stage using genetic variants that are markers of drug efficacy

Prescribing - Genetic test could function as an efficient factor in determining the best choice of drug for a given patient and condition based on their individual genotype

examples of genes go wrong

phenylketonuria - body cant break down phenylalanine which builds blood in brain, is treated with low protein die, can lead to learning difficulties, behaviour difficulties, epilepsy

neurofibromatosis - tumours grow along nerves, usually non cancerous

Epidermolysis bullosa - skin becomes fragile, friction can cause blisters

2 types of Nucleic acids

DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid , found in the nucleus with small amounts of mitochondria

RNA - Ribonucleic acid - found throughout the cell

Strcutures of Nucleic acids

DNA and RNA are nucleic acids

condensation polymers of nucleotides

nucleotides are composed of pentose, phosphate group, nitrogenous base

For DNA and RNA carbons run from 1- 5 prime

Adenine and guanine are what type of bases

thymine cytosine and uracil are what bases

double ring purines

single ring pyrimidines

nucleotides run in what direction

3 to 5 prime

what are the major and minor grooves of the DNA double helix

major groove= where the sugar phosphate backbones are further apart

minor groove - where they are closer together

this is important as many drugs interact with major or minor grooves

Explain DNA as a molecule of heredity

Frederick griffith 1928- found something from dead virulent cells could transform non virulent cells into virulent cells

Avery, MacLeod and MCCarty 1944- their experiments showed that DNA was the transforming factor

DNA vs RNA

DNA = double stranded, has deoxyribose, thymine

RNA= single stranded, ribose, uracil

DNA features

joined by hydrogen bonds

run antiparallel

A pairs with T

G pairs with C

mRNA function

generated during transcription

transcribed from DNA in nucleus

its sequence is complementary to DNA sequence

carries genetic info from nucleus to cytoplasm

tRNA function

helps decode mRNA sequence into a protein

binds with anticodon to codon on mRNA

carry specific amino acids at 3 end

rRna

part of ribosome

ribosomes composed of rRna and proteins

crucial for translation