1. DNA
How do genes work? What are they made of, and how do they determine the characteristics of organisms?
In the middle 1900’s questions like these were on the minds of biologists everywhere.
Gregor Mendel “Father of Genetics” (1864)
Genetics – the scientific study of heredity.

2. The Alphabet of Life What are words? What really are letters?
What is a code?
Read this:

3. The Components and Structure of DNA
When scientists found out that the molecule DNA was responsible for our genetics they still were not satisfied.
How could DNA or any molecule for that matter have the ability to carry, translate, copy, and be responsible for our heredity?

4. DNA(Dexoyribose Nucleic Acid)
DNA is a long molecule made up of units called nucleotides.
Nucleotide is made up of three basic structures:
- A 5-carbon sugar called deoxyribose
- A phosphate group
- And a combination of four nitrogenous bases.

5. The Backbone of DNA
The “backbone” of DNA is made of up of sugar and phosphate.
This backbone allows for the nitrogeneous bases (adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine) to combine and construct our genetic code.

6. Nitrogenous Bases
DNA’s nitrogenous bases are the letters of the words which make up our genetic code.
Adenine always connects with Thymine.
Cytosine always connects with Guanine.
Together these bases make up the steps of a ladder.

7. Nitrogenous Bases
- Two nitrogenous bases belong to a group called the purines. (outies)
(Adenine and Gyanine) A and G
The other two nitrogenous bases belong to a group called the pyrimidines. (innies)
(Cytosine and Thymine) C and T

8. Adenine and Thymine
Straights with Straights

9. Guanine and Cytosine
Curves with Curves

10. DNA
Each DNA molecule is made up of a series of monomers called nucleotides. Each nucleotide has three parts:
A deoxyribose sugar
A phosphate group
A nitrogenous base.

11. DNA’s History
Know that you know what DNA is and what it is constructed, how do you think it was found?

12. Chargaff’s Rule
One of the puzzling facts about DNA was a curious relationship between its nucleotides.
Erwin Chargaff (an American biochemist) had discovered that the percentages of guanine and cytosine bases are almost always equal in any sample of DNA.

13. X-Ray Evidence
In the early 1950’s a British scientist named Rosalind Franklin began to study DNA.
Just like anyone else that is curious Rosalind wanted to see what she was studying, so she literally to a picture of DNA with an X-ray.

14. The Double Helix
At the same time that Franklin was continuing her research, Francis Crick and James Watson were trying to build a three-dimensional model of the molecule.
Watson and Crick used Rosalind’s picture to figure out DNA’s puzzle and the solved what is known as the double helix.

15. DNA is a double helix in which two strands are wound around each other
DNA is a double helix in which two strands are wound around each other. Each strand is made up of a chain of nucleotides. The two strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between adenine and thymine and between guanine and cytosine.