DNA structure

What is DNA made from?

2 strands that are wrapped around each other in a double helix.

What is DNA?

A polymer as it is made up of lots of these tiny little units called monomers.

What is each monomer in DNA called?

A nucleotide. Each nucleotide is made of 3 different parts,

What 3 parts make up a nucleotide? (look at a diagram)

Sugar, phosphate and a base.

What are the 4 bases?

• A

• T

• C

• G

  4 different nucleotides in DNA.

How do nucleotides combine together to form a polymer?

The phosphate of one nucleotide bonds to the sugar of the next nucleotide, and this process repeats for thousands of nucleotides, forming a long chain (sugar phosphate backbone)

What is the role of bases in DNA structure?

Bases all stick out. These are what hold the 2 strands together.

Only complementary bases can pair.

What does the base A pair with?

T

What does the base C pair with?

G.

This is complementary base pairing.

What is a gene?

A particular sequence of bases that codes for a specific protein.

What is each group of 3 bases called?

A triplet, this codes for a specific amino acid.

What is important about proteins?

• They each have a different sequence of amino acids.

• Meaning they all have a unique shape

• Used to carry out a particular function.

What are the main uses of proteins?

• As enzymes

• Hormones

• Structural proteins (add strength to cells and tissues)