Deoxyribonucleic AcidDNA It is a Double Helix That means it has a spiral formation It is a super molecule It belongs to a group of organic molecules known as Nucleic Acids Nucleic Acids carry information. Other Nucleic Acids RNA – Ribonucleic Acid: of which there are three. mRNA tRNA & rRNA

Deoxyribonucleic AcidDNA Cells Nucleus DNA is the Blueprint of life.

Deoxyribonucleic AcidDNA Here are two views of the spiral Doubled Helix. It has been straightened out by untwisting it. This now looks like a ladder.

Deoxyribonucleic AcidDNA This illustration shows one side of the molecule. The bluish shaded area are like the sides of the ladder. They are made up of alternating sugars and phosphates The sugars are deoxyribose sugar

Deoxyribonucleic Acid DNA The rungs of the ladder are composed of nitrogen bases: T is for Thymine A is for Adenine C is for Cytocine G is for Guanine

Adenine Cytosine Guanine Thymine DNA Nitrogen Bases These bases compose the rungs of the DNA ladder. The Adenine always bonds with Thymine. The Cytocine always bonds with Guanine. Adenine & Guanine are Purines. Thymine, Cytosine and Uracil (see later in RNA) are Pyrimidines.

DNA Here you can see both sides of the ladder and the rungs connected by Hydrogen Bonds. The bonds are unique. Can you see why? What does that tell you about their important relationship to the bases available? What is a nucleotide?

DNA Adenine can only bond with Thymine (2 hydrogen bonds) A=T or T=A Guanine can only bond with Cytocine (3 hydrogen bonds) C= -G or G= -C The Nitrogen bases are the key to making codes for DNA. The sequence of the A T C G’s placement translate into a pattern or code containing vital blueprint information for a living organisms

DNA Replication Replication is the way the DNA molecule makes a copy of itself. Enzymes (cannot see it here) move along the strand breaking the hydrogen bonds and separating the DNA allowing new bases (ATCorG) to combine to the strands. Eventually a new duplicate strand is made.

Replication Go ahead. Click it. Replication: To make an exact copy. This is what the DNA molecule does to duplicate itself. It is done before a cell divides. If the cells does not make an exact copy it could not survive. However, some mistakes do get by. These may become mutations or minor variations.

Ribonucleic Acid RNA RNA is different from DNA in three ways: 1.They contain the Ribose sugar instead of Deoxyribose. 2.They replace the Thymine base with a base called Uracil (U). 3.They are a single strand nucleic acid, not double like DNA’s Double Helix.

Ribonucleic Acid RNA rRNA (ribosomal RNA) rRNA is found in a cells cytoplasm and are what a ribosome is made of Ribonucleic Acids or RNA comes in three forms: tRNA (transfer RNA) tRNA is also found in the cytoplasm of the cell. They carry and transfer amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins mRNA (messenger RNA) mRNA are made in the nucleus by the DNA. They carry the codes(Message) from the DNA out of the nucleus and into the cytoplasm. Their codes will be used to build the proteins.

Transcription The writing of a message code from a segment of DNA to mRNA (as seen here in yellow). This mRNA code will be translated into a protein.

Transcription RNA is formed when RNA Polymerase unzips the DNA molecule initiating the formation of mRNA. Uracil(U) replaces Thymine(T) in the RNA. When the process is done mRNA moves away and the DNA molecule returns to its original state.

Codes: These are 3 base sequences. That use A, T, C, G (as always U replaced T when producing RNA). These 3 base codes are called codons. Examples: AAA, UAG, CAU, UUU, GCC, CCU. There are many possiblities of codons. Transcription

Transcription involves connecting codes in the 3 base sequences called codons. The red sections you see below are codons. They will eventually represent an amino acid which when joined with other codons and amino acids will become a protein during TRANSLATION.

Translation Translation is the process whereby the information that has been coded to the mRNA by DNA is converted to a protein. There are several important features and events that need to be understood. 1.The mRNA must leave the nucleus through the nuclear envelop pores in order to get into the cytoplasm where protein synthesis takes place. 2.Once in the cytoplasm the strand of mRNA connects with a ribosome unit (the site of protein synthesis).

Translation 3. The tRNA which is free floating in the cytoplasm and holding onto an amino acid specific to it’s self will attach it anti- codon to the mRNA’s codon.

Translation 4.At this point the tRNA and it’s respective amino acid will remain attaches to the mRNA until the next tRNA unit and amino acid arrive to be bonded by a peptide bond.

Translation 5. Once the amino acid is bonded the tRNA releases from the mRNA and departs the ribosome unit. It will then look to add an appropriate amino acid from the cytoplasm in order to be ready to be used at another time.

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Translation