DNA SUMMARY SHEET: #104

o DNA provides all of the genetic information for an organisms

characteristics and functioning.
o Since DNA cannot copy itself, RNA is necessary to copy the DNA to
proteins
o The sugar in DNA is deoxyribose
o The sugar in RNA is ribose
o DNA is a double helix RNA is a single helix
o The 3 components of DNA are phosphate, a deoxyribose sugar and a
nitrogenous base
o Each segment is called a nucleotide
o The 4 nitrogenous bases are Adenine Thymine , Guanine Cystosine
o In RNA, the Thymine is replaces with Uracil, so Adenine base pairs with Uracil
o The shape of the DNA molecule was discovered by Watson & Crick with the
help of Rosalind Franklin in 1959.
o It was this picture taken by chromatography by Rosalind Franklin that helped
solve the mystery of DNAs shape

o DNA must be transcribed to RNA to produce the proteins that direct the cells
functions
o This transcription occurs in the nucleus of each cell
o Translation from mRNA (messenger RNA-transferRNA) to proteins occurs in
the Ribosomes in the cells cytoplasm.
o Proteins are made up of amino acids
o The order of the amino acids determines the shape and type of protein
produced
o 20 amino acids create the 60 amino acids that make up all of the proteins in
our bodies
o The 3-base code for the proteins is called a codon
o There are 3 special codons that code for starting and stopping
translation
o Errors in the nitrogenous base sequence can cause mutations
o A single base error can cause the wrong protein to be produced
o This can cause serious health issues (i.e., sickle cell, hemophilia, breast
cancer, Tay Sachs, etc)
o Since each amino acid has multiple codons, sometimes, an error in the
nitrogenous base sequence still codes the correct amino acid

o DNA can be used to identify related species, family relationships because

the base sequences, and therefore amino acid sequences are more similar
between close relatives than distant strangers.

DNA BASE PAIRING

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A C G T T C G AG
T G C A A G C TC
TRANSCRIPTION TO RNA:
A C G
Thr

U U C

/ Phe /

G A G
Glu

TRANSLATION TO AMINO ACIDS:

Acids

Transcription and Translation

DNA to RNA RNA to Amino

DNA Double Helix - Sugar/phosphate backbone

Nitrogenous bases paired in the middle