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DNA

DNA . DeoxyriboNucleic Acid. DNA is the Genetic Material of Chromosomes. Levels of Structure. Chromosomes are long DNA molecules packed together DNA is composed of 2 strands Each strand is a long string of nucleotides. DNA is the blueprint. Contains the codes for what makes us, well us

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DNA

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  1. DNA DeoxyriboNucleic Acid

  2. DNA is the Genetic Material of Chromosomes

  3. Levels of Structure • Chromosomes are long DNA molecules packed together • DNA is composed of 2 strands • Each strand is a long string of nucleotides

  4. DNA is the blueprint • Contains the codes for what makes us, well us • We are really just scratching the surface in understanding the ways DNA works

  5. Some basics about DNA • We have a lot of it- every cell contains about 6.5 feet of DNA (if you were to run each molecule end to end) • The total length of DNA in our body would go the sun and back • 70 times!

  6. Our Understanding of It Is Changing Rapidly Old View New View • DNA is mostly genes • Each segment of DNA is a gene that codes for a protein • Rest of DNA is “junk” • <1% of DNA are actually coding genes • The rest controls the expression of genes or play as-of-yet undiscovered roles

  7. What We Have a Good Understanding Of • The structure of DNA (shape, how it is stored etc.) • How DNA is replicated • How proteins are made from genes • The sequence of DNA

  8. What We Barely Understand • What causes genes to be activated or expressed • What the 99% of DNA does or why it’s there • Genetic links in things like heart disease/cancer • How the environment affects our DNA • How DNA came to be, chromosome came to be etc. • Much, much more

  9. Our Knowledge of DNA is Changing RAPIDLY! • Our understandings now is very different from when I was in college which is different from when I was in HS. Our understanding will have changed if you take biology in college • The old adage “50% of what you are learning is wrong- the problem is we don’t know which 50%”

  10. DNA Structure • Theorized to be a double helix consisting of 2 strands wrapped around each other • Discovered by Watson and Crick AND Rosalind Franklin

  11. Rosalind Franklin • Provided the scientific evidence that allowed Watson and Crick to suggest the double helix • Often goes uncredited and since she had died – couldn’t share in the Nobel prize

  12. Nucleotide • A single piece of the DNA strand • Made of 3 parts • Deoxyribose (sugar) • Phosphate • Base (A,G,C or T)

  13. The helical backbone of 1 strand • Alternates between the sugar (deoxyribose) and the phosphate group • The base sticks out into the middle

  14. Double-Stranded • The bases bond with each other to hold the strands together • The base from one strand bonds with the base from the other forming a base pair • They coil into a double-helix

  15. What You Should Know about DNA structure • The basic structure of a nucleotide • The basic structure of DNA • How DNA and RNA differ • Base-pair rules • How the structure suggests a replication method

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