DNA Structure & Function

Page 4: Learning Target and Success Criteria

  • Learning Target: Describe DNA structural components and their functions.

  • Success Criteria:

    • Identify structural components of DNA: nucleotides and hydrogen bonds.

    • Explain interaction of components in DNA molecule formation.

    • Describe Chargaff's rule and its role in DNA replication.

    • Compare and contrast DNA and RNA structures.

Page 5: What is DNA?

  • Definition: DNA is a nucleic acid.

  • Full Name: DeoxyriboNucleic Acid.

  • Structure: Long chain of repeating subunits called nucleotides.

  • Types: Main nucleic acids are DNA and RNA.

Page 6: Nucleotide Structure

  • Definition: Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA.

  • Components of Nucleotide:

    • Deoxyribose sugar

    • Phosphate

    • Nitrogenous bases:

      • Adenine (A)

      • Thymine (T)

      • Guanine (G)

      • Cytosine (C)

Page 8: DNA Strand Structure

  • Hydrogen bonds hold the base pairs of the DNA molecule together (weak).

  • Covalent bonds connect sugars and phosphates along the backbone (strong).

  • Importance of representing hydrogen bonds as dotted lines due to their weak nature.

Page 11: Nitrogen Base Pairing in DNA

  • Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T) (A to T - apple tree).

  • Cytosine (C) pairs with Guanine (G) (C to G - car garage).

  • Importance: Base pairs carry specific trait information; sequence diversity leads to organismal differences.

Page 12: Chargaff’s Rule

  • Erwin Chargaff's findings:

    • % adenine = % thymine

    • % cytosine = % guanine

  • Significance: Basis for understanding DNA composition consistency across species.

Page 13: Chargaff's Rule Practice Problems

  • Problem: If a DNA strand has 23% adenine, determine other base percentages.

  • Problem: If a strand has 37% guanine, determine other base percentages.

Page 14: Structural Configuration of DNA

  • Backbone: Alternating sugars and phosphates.

  • Base pairs: Located centrally in the DNA structure.

  • Orientation: Strands run anti-parallel (opposite directions).

  • Shape: DNA forms a double helix structure.

Page 19: General Information

  • All organisms possess genetic code (DNA) in varying amounts.

Page 20: DNA as Genetic Material

  • DNA is a nucleic acid in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

  • Function: Contains genetic information specifying traits.

  • Question: How can different organisms with DNA have varying traits?

Page 21: Differences Between DNA and RNA

  • Genetic Material Comparison:

    • DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid

    • RNA: Ribonucleic acid

  • Comparison focuses on structural components of each.

Page 22: RNA Characteristics

  • Definition: RNA carries genetic information similar to DNA.

  • Structure: Consists of nucleotides with:

    1. Sugar

    2. Phosphate

    3. Nitrogenous Bases

Page 23: Comparison of Components

  • Highlighted differences between DNA and RNA:

    • Bases: Represenation of Uracil (RNA) vs Thymine (DNA).

Page 24: Assignments and Tasks

  • Upcoming tasks:

    1. Finish DNA Structure and Replication Activity

    2. Complete DNA Structure and Function Practice (Schoology Check)

    3. Begin Cell Cycle Activity

    4. Complete related tasks in both English and Spanish.