1. Identifying the Substance of Genes
Chapter 12
Identifying the Substance of Genes

2. Chapter Mystery Page 337 UV Light Why is UV light so dangerous?
How can these particular wavelengths of light damage our cells to the point of causing cell death and cancer?
Hypothesis……….

3. Section 12.1 Identifying the Substance of Genes
Objectives:
What clues did bacterial transformation yield about the gene?
What role did bacterial viruses play in identifying genetic material?
What is the role of DNA in heredity
Define:
Transformations
bacteriophage

4. I. Bacterial Transformations
If the molecule that carries genetic information could be identified, it might be possible to understand how genes actually control the inherited characteristics of living things
Fredrick Griffith was trying to figure out how bacteria make people sick (pneumonia)
He isolated 2 very similar types of bacteria from the mice = 2 different varieties (strains) of the same bacterial species
Both grew very well in culture plates
Only 1 caused pneumonia
Diseased-causing bacteria (S-strain) grew into smooth colonies & harmless bacteria (R-strain) produced colonies w/ rough edges
Differences in appearance made the 2 strains easy to tell apart

5. A. Griffith’s Experiments
Griffith injected mice w/ disease-causing bacteria  mice developed pneumonia  mice died
Injected mice with harmless bacteria  mice stayed healthy
1. Heated S-strain bacteria  killed bacteria  then injected into mice  mice survived = (suggested cause of pneumonia was not a toxin from disease-causing bacteria)
Mixed heat-killed S-strain w/ live, harmless bacteria from R-strain  injected into mice  (by themselves, neither type should have made mice sick)  injected mice developed pneumonia  many died
- Examined lungs and found them to be full of harmful bacteria!!!

6. Draw and Label a diagram of Griffith’s Experiments

7. B. Transformation
Heat-killed bacteria passed disease-causing ability to harmless bacteria
Griffith’s hypothesis: when mixed, some chemical factor transferred from heat-killed cells of S strain into live cells of R strain
Transformation – process by which one type of bacteria (harmless) had been changed permanently into another (disease-causing form)
Ability to cause disease was inherited by the offspring of the transformed bacteria
Griffith concluded: transforming factor had to be a gene

8. C. The Molecular Cause of Transformation
1944 – Avery repeated Griffith’s experiments to determine which molecule in the heat-killed bacteria was most important for transformation
If they could find this particular molecule, it might reveal the chemical nature of the gene
Extracted various molecules from heat-killed bacteria  treated mixture w/ enzymes that destroyed proteins, lipids, carbs, nucleic acid RNA  transformation still occurred (results)
Since all those molecules were destroyed, they could not be responsible for the transformation (conclusion)
Repeated experiment  used enzymes that broke down DNA  transformation did not occur (results) DNA was the transferring factor (conclusion)
By observing bacterial transformation, Avery and other scientists discovered that the nucleic acid DNA stores and transmits genetic information from one generation of bacteria to the next

9. Avery’s Experiment

10. II. Bacterial Viruses Scientists are skeptical
Takes several experiments to convince them of something as important as chemical nature of gene
Most important = 1952 = Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase
Studied viruses – tiny, nonliving particles that can infect living cells

11. A. Bacteriophages Bacteriophage – kind of virus that infects bacteria
Bacteriophage enters bacteria  attaches to surface of cell  injects genetic information into cell
Viral genes act to produce as many bacteriophages (destroys bacterium)
When cell splits open  hundreds of new viruses burst out

12. Draw a diagram of how bacteriophage infects a bacteria cell

13. B. The Hershey-Chase Experiment
Studied bacteriophage composed of DNA core and protein coat
Wanted to determine which part of virus entered bacterial cell to support or disprove Avery’s finding that genes were made of DNA
Used radioactive markers to tell which molecules actually entered bacteria  carrying genetic information of virus
Mixed marked viruses w/ bacterial cells  waited few minutes for viruses to inject genetic material  separated viruses from bacteria  tested bacteria for radioactivity
Results: Nearly all radioactivity in bacteria indicated DNA
Concluded: genetic material of bacteriophage was DNA; not protein
Hershey and Chase’s experiment w/ bacteriophages confirmed Avery’s results, convincing many scientists that DNA was the genetic material found in genes – not just in viruses and bacteria, but in all living cells.

14. Hershey-Chase Experiment

15. III. The Role of DNA
Scientists wondered how DNA, or any molecule, could do critical things that genes were known to do
The DNA that makes up genes must be capable of storing, copying, and transmitting the genetic information in a cell

16. A. Storing Information Foremost job of DNA
Genes that make a flower purple must carry info needed to produce purple pigment
Genes for blood type and eye color must have info needed for job
Genes control patterns of development
Instructions that cause a single cell to develop into an oak tree, sea urchin, or dog must be written into DNA of each of these organisms

17. B. Copying Information
Before a cell divides  must make complete copy of every one of its genes
Mechanism for this process could not be proposed until structure of molecule was known
Discussed in next section…

18. C. Transmitting Information
Genes are transmitted from one generation to the next (per Mendel)
DNA molecule must be carefully sorted and passed along during cell division
Especially important during formation of sex cells in meiosis
Chromosomes of eukaryotic cells contain genes made of DNA
Loss of any DNA during meiosis might mean loss of valuable genetic information from one generation to the next

19. Section 12.2 The Structure of DNA
Objectives:
What are the chemical components of DNA?
What clues helped scientists solve the structure of DNA?
What does the double-helix model tell us about DNA?
Define:
Base pairing

20. I. The Components of DNA Deoxyribonucleic Acid
DNA is a nucleic acid made up of nucleotides joined into long strands or chains by covalent bonds

21. A. Nucleic Acids and Nucleotides
Nucleic acids – long, slightly acidic molecules originally identified in cell nuclei
Macromolecule  made up of smaller subunits linked together to form long chains
Nucleotides – building blocks of nucleic acids
Made up of 3 basic components:
5-carbon sugar (deoxyribose)
Phosphate group
Nitrogenous base

22. B. Nitrogenous Bases and Covalent Bonds
Nitrogenous bases – bases that contain nitrogen
4 types:
Adenine (A)
Guanine (G)
Cytosine (C)
Thymine (T)
Nucleotides joined by covalent bonds formed b/w sugar of one nucleotide and phosphate group of next
Nitrogenous bases stick out sideways from nucleotide chain
Nucleotides can be joined together in any order  any sequence of bases is possible
Could carry coded genetic information
Bases have chemical that makes them especially good at absorbing UV (ultraviolet) light

23. Mystery Clue
Page 344…
The energy from UV light can excite electrons in the absorbing substance to the point where the electrons cause chemical changes.
What chemical changes might occur in the nitrogenous bases of DNA?

24. II. Solving the Structure of DNA
Know DNA is made from long chains of nucleotides
Must find out the way in which those chains are arranged in 3 dimensions

25. A. Chargaff’s Rule
Percentages of adenine and thymine bases are almost equal in any sample of DNA
Same thing is true for guanine and cytosine
Chargaff’s Rule: A=T and G=C
Samples from all organisms obey this rule

26. B. Franklin’s X-Rays
Rosalind Franklin (1950s) – used X-ray diffraction to get info about DNA structure
Purified large amount of DNA
Stretched DNA fibers in thin glass tube (so most of strands were parallel)
Aimed powerful X-ray beam at concentrated DNA
Recorded scattering pattern of X-rays on film
Repeated until she obtained clear patterns
Clues from X-ray:
X-shaped pattern  strands in DNA are twisted around each other like coils of a spring
Shape = helix
Angle of X  there are 2 strands in structure
Other clues  nitrogenous bases near center of DNA molecule

27. C. The work of Watson and Crick
James Watson & Francis Crick
Built 3 dimensional models of DNA made of cardboard and wire
The clues in Franklin’s X-ray pattern enabled Watson and Crick to build a model that explained the specific structure and properties of DNA

28. III. The Double-Helix Model
Double helix looks like a twisted ladder
2 strands twist around each other like a spiral staircase
The double-helix model explains Chargaff’s rule of base pairing and how the two strands of DNA are held together
Also tells us how DNA can function as a carrier of genetic information

29. A. Antiparallel Strands
2 strands of DNA run in opposite directions = “antiparallel”
Enables nitrogenous bases on both strands to come into contact at the center of molecule
Allows each strand to carry a sequence of nucleotides
Arranged almost like letters in a four-lettered alphabet

30. Mystery Clue
Page 347…
Our skin cells are exposed to UV light whenever they are in direct sunlight.
How might this exposure affect base pairing in the DNA of our skin cells?

31. B. Hydrogen Bonding Relatively weak chemical forces
Could form b/w certain nitrogenous bases
Provides just enough force to hold 2 strands together
Does it make sense that a molecule as important as DNA should be held together by such weak bonds?
Yes!!
If 2 strands of helix were held together by strong bonds  it might be impossible to separate them
Separation is critical to DNA’s functions

32. C. Base Pairing
Watson and Crick’s model showed that hydrogen bonds could create a nearly perfect fit b/w nitrogenous bases along the center of molecule
Bonds only form b/w certain base pairs
A with T
G with C
Base pairing – nearly perfect fit b/w A-T and G-C
Explains Chargaff’s rule
For every adenine  exactly one thymine
For each cytosine  exactly one guanine

33. Section 12.3 DNA Replication
Objectives:
What role does DNA polymerase play in copying DNA?
How does DNA replication differ in prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells?
Define:
Replication
DNA polymerase
Telomere

34. I. Carrying the Code
Base pairing in double helix explains how DNA can be copied/replicated
Each base on one strand pairs w/ 1 (and only 1) base on the opposite strand
Each strand has all the information needed to reconstruct the other half by mechanism of base pairing
Each strand can be used to make the other strand  strands are complementary

35. A. The Replication Process
Before a cell divides  it duplicates its DNA
Process is called replication
Occurs during late interphase
Ensures that each resulting cell has same set of DNA molecules
DNA separates into 2 strands
Produces 2 new complementary strands
Follows rules of base pairing
Each strand serves as template/model for new strand

36. 2 strands of double helix unzip
Allow 2 replication forks to form
As each new strand forms, new bases are added following rules of base pairing
If base pair is A then T is added to new strand
G always pairs with C
Example: strand w/ base sequence: TACGTT produces a complementary base sequence: ATGCAA
Results: 2 DNA molecules identical to each other and to the original molecules
Each new molecule has one new strand and one old strand

37. B. The Role of Enzymes
Enzymes – unzip molecule of DNA by breaking hydrogen bonds b/w base pairs & unwinding the 2 strands
Each strand serves as template for attachment of complementary bases
DNA polymerase – principal enzyme involved in DNA replication
DNA polymerase is an enzyme that joins individual nucleotides to produce a new strand of DNA
Produces sugar-phosphate bonds that join nucleotides together
“Proofreads” each new DNA strand, so that each molecule is a near-perfect copy of original

38. Mystery Clue
Page 351…
How might UV-induced chemical changes in bases affect the process of DNA replication?

39. C. Telomeres
Telomeres – DNA at tips of chromosomes
Difficult to replicate
Cells use special enzyme  telomerase
Adds short, repeated DNA sequences to telomeres
In rapidly dividing cells (stem cells)  telomerase helps to prevent genes from being damaged or lost during replication
Often switched off in adult cells
May be activated in cancer cells  enabling cells to grow and proliferate rapidly

40. II. Replication in Living Cells
DNA replication occurs during S phase
Carefully regulated so it is completed before cell enters mitosis or meiosis
Prokaryotes = single, circular DNA molecule in cytoplasm – contains nearly all genetic information
Eukaryotes = 1000 times more DNA in nucleus, packaged into chromosomes
Chromosomes consist of DNA tightly packed together w/ proteins = chromatin
DNA + histones = beadlike nucleosomes
Histones = proteins chromatin is coiled around

41. A. Prokaryotic DNA Replication
DNA replication does not start until regulatory proteins bind to a single starting point on the chromosome
Then proteins trigger beginning of S phase
Then DNA replication begins
Replication in most prokaryotic cells starts from a single point and proceeds in 2 directions until entire chromosome is copied
2 chromosomes are attached to different points inside the cell membrane and separated when cell splits

42. B. Eukaryotic DNA Replication
Chromosomes = much bigger
Replication may begin at dozens or even hundreds of places on the DNA molecule, proceeding in both directions until each chromosome is completely copied
Although proteins check DNA for chemical damage or base pair mismatches prior to replication  system is not foolproof
Damaged regions of DNA are sometimes replicated  result in changes of DNA sequences that may alter certain genes and produce serious consequences

43. 2 copies of DNA produced by replication in each chromosome remain closely associated until cell enters prophase of mitosis
Then  chromosomes condense  2 chromatids in each chromosome become clearly visible
Chromatids separate from each other in anaphase of mitosis
Produce 2 new cells each w/ complete set of genes coded in DNA

44. Solve the Chapter Mystery
Page 357…
Use your understanding of the structure of DNA to predict what sorts of problems excessive UV light might produce in the DNA molecule. How might these changes affect the functions of DNA?
All cells have systems of enzymes that repair UV-induced damage to their DNA. Some cellular systems block DNA replication if there are base pairing problems in the double helix. Why are these systems important? How might they work?
Analyze the effects that UV light might have on skin cells. What is UV light so dangerous? Why is the skin particularly vulnerable to it?
Among humans who inherit genetic defects in their DNA-repair systems, the incidence of skin cancer is as much as 1000 times greater than average. Based on this information, what can you infer about the effect of UV light on DNA?