1. Molecular Genetics Central Dogma of Molecular Biology Nucleic Acid Structure Transcription Translation Technology

2. Central Dogma of Molecular Biology One gene codes for one protein A gene is made of DNADNA DNA is converted into RNA during transcription transcription RNA is converted into a sequence of amino acids during translationtranslation The order of amino acids in a polypeptide determines the characteristics of a proteinprotein

3. Nucleic Acid Structure A nucleic acid is a weak acid found in the nucleus of a cell There are two nucleic acids: DNA and RNA 1.DNA: deoxyribonucleic aciddeoxyribonucleic acid Made up of nucleotides (deoxyribose sugar, phosphate, nitrogenous base)nucleotidesdeoxyribose sugar Nitrogenous bases include adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymineadenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine Double helix arrangementDouble helix Self replicating

4. Nucleic Acid Structure 2.RNA: ribonucleic acid Made up of nucleotides (ribose sugar, phosphate, nitrogenous base)ribose sugar Nitrogenous bases include adenine, cytosine, guanine and uracilNitrogenous bases Single helix arrangementSingle helix Three types of RNA (messenger, ribosomal and transfer)messengerribosomaltransfer

5. Transcription Transcription is the process of converting a DNA sequence (gene) into a segment of messenger RNA (mRNA)Transcription Transcription is necessary because DNA is unstable outside the nucleus where protein synthesis occursTranscription RNA is stable outside the nucleus

6. Translation Translation is the process of converting mRNA codons into a polypeptideTranslationcodons Translation occurs at the ribosomes in the cytoplasm of the cellTranslation A mutation is a change in the DNA code that results in a change in the mRNA codons Mutations can be silent, mis-sense or nonsense (frameshift)

7. Technology The discovery of DNA and the mechanism of protein synthesis has lead to technological breakthroughs including 1.Recombinant DNA: adding genes from one species into the genome of anotherRecombinant DNA Recombinant DNA technology has been used to produce insulin, growth hormone and genetically modified foods genetically modified foods Uses restriction enzymes and ligase enzymesrestriction enzymesligase enzymes

8. Technology 2.Gene Therapy: inserting genes into specific cells to restore normal functionGene Therapy 3.DNA profiling: using fragments of DNA for identification (victims of disasters, criminal suspects, paternity testing)DNA profilingvictims of disasterscriminal suspectspaternity testing Uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresispolymerase chain reactiongel electrophoresis