1. Compare DNA and RNA in terms of structure, nucleotides and base pairs.
Unit 4: Genetics
B-4.1
Compare DNA and RNA in terms of structure, nucleotides and base pairs.

2. Key Concepts Nucleic Acids: Nucleotides: Complementary base pairs
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Nucleotides:
nitrogen base, sugar, phosphate group
Complementary base pairs

3. It is essential for you to know…
Nucleic acids are organic molecules that serve as the blueprint for proteins and , through the action of proteins, for all cellular activity.
The two types of nucleic acids: DNA and RNA
DNA and RNA are both comprised of nucleotides that each have three parts.
The basic structure of DNA and RNA are different (due to their sugars).
DNA is double stranded whereas RNA is single stranded.

4. Objectives Compare DNA and RNA.
Recognize the chemical names of the DNA and RNA molecules.
Identify the three parts of a nucleotide.
Interpret an illustration of a nucleotide.
Interpret an illustration of a DNA and a RNA molecule.

5. History: Griffith & Transformation
1928, Frederick Griffith
Did experiment to find out why some bacteria caused pneumonia.
Discovered transformation.

6. A transforming material passed from dead S bacteria to live R bacteria, making them deadly.
What exactly was transforming? He didn’t quite know.

7. History: Avery & DNA 1944, Oswald Avery
Repeated Griffith’s work in order to determine which molecule in the bacteria caused it to be transformed.
Discovered that DNA was the nucleic acid that stored and transmitted genetic material.

8. History: The Hershey-Chase Experiment
1952, Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase
Studied viruses and discovered bacteriophages.

10. The Structure of DNA DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid
A long molecule made up of units called nucleotides.
phosphate group
deoxyribose (sugar)
nitrogen-containing
base

11. The Structure of DNA Nucleotides 5-carbon sugar A phosphate group
deoxyribose
A phosphate group
Nitrogenous base
Adenine (purines)
Guanine (purines)
Thymine (pyrimidines)
Cytosine (pyrimidines)
Purine
Pyrimidine

12. The nitrogen containing bases are the only difference in the four nucleotides.

13. The Structure of DNA Has to be responsible for three things:
Genes have to carry info from one generation to the next.
Genes have to put that info to work by determining heritable traits.
Genes have to be easily copied during cell replication.

14. The Structure of DNA
The backbone of a DNA chain is formed by sugar and phosphate groups.
The nitrogenous bases stick out sideways from the chains like the rungs on a ladder & can be joined together in any way.

15. The backbone is connected by covalent bonds.
The bases are connected by hydrogen bonds.
hydrogen bond
covalent bond

16. Chargaff’s Rules Erwin Chargaff Discovered in any sample of DNA that:
% of guanine and cytosine are almost equal
% of adenine and thymine are almost equal
G=C & A=T
Called base pairing

17. Nucleotides always pair in the same way.
The base-pairing rules show how nucleotides always pair up in DNA.
A pairs with T
C pairs with G
Because a pyrimidine (single ring) pairs with a purine (double ring), the helix has a uniform width. C G T A

18. X-Ray Evidence
Early 1950s Rosalind Franklin used X-Ray diffraction to get information about the structure of DNA.
Suggested that DNA is twisted in some type of way.

19. The Double Helix
Francis Crick and James Watson built 3-D models of DNA to help understand its structure.
Discovered that DNA was a double helix.

20. The Structure of RNA RNA: Ribonucleic Acid
A long molecule made up of units called nucleotides.
phosphate group
ribose (sugar)
nitrogen-containing
base

21. The Structure of RNA Nucleotides 5-carbon sugar A phosphate group
ribose
A phosphate group
Nitrogenous base
Adenine (purines)
Guanine (purines)
Uracil (pyrimidines)
Cytosine (pyrimidines)
Purine
Pyrimidine

22. The Structure of RNA RNA: ribonucleic acid Sugar is called ribose.
A disposable copy of DNA.
Single stranded
Has uracil instead of thymine like in DNA.

23. Types of RNA There are three main types of RNA: Messenger RNA (mRNA)
carries copies of instructions for the assembly of amino acids into proteins from DNA to rest of cell
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
makes up the major part of ribosomes
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
transfers amino acids to ribosomes during protein synthesis

24. Transcription Transcription is the process of copying DNA into RNA.
So that translation can happen next
Happens in the nucleus of eukaryotes and the cytoplasm of prokaryotes.
Wherever the DNA is