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DNA Structure

DNA consists of nucleotides that form a double helix structure. Nucleotides contain a phosphate group, sugar, and one of four nitrogenous bases: adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine. The bases bond together in a complementary pairing rule - adenine pairs with thymine and cytosine pairs with guanine. This base pairing between the DNA strands allows each strand to encode the same genetic information.

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harold carbonel
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80 views18 pages

DNA Structure

DNA consists of nucleotides that form a double helix structure. Nucleotides contain a phosphate group, sugar, and one of four nitrogenous bases: adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine. The bases bond together in a complementary pairing rule - adenine pairs with thymine and cytosine pairs with guanine. This base pairing between the DNA strands allows each strand to encode the same genetic information.

Uploaded by

harold carbonel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DNA stands for

Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA Structure
DNA consists of two molecules that are
arranged into a ladder-like structure called a
Double Helix.

A molecule of DNA is made up of millions of


tiny subunits called Nucleotides.

Each nucleotide consists of:


1. Phosphate group
2. Pentose sugar
3. Nitrogenous base
Nucleotides

Phosphate

Nitrogenous
Base

Pentose
Sugar
Nucleotides
The phosphate and sugar form the
backbone of the DNA molecule, whereas the
bases form the “rungs”.

There are four types of nitrogenous bases.


Nucleotides
A T

Adenine Thymine

C G

Cytosine Guanine
Nucleotides
Each base will only bond with one other
specific base.

Adenine (A)
Form a base pair.
Thymine (T)

Cytosine (C)
Form a base pair.
Guanine (G)
Base-Pair Rule
Adenine <==> Thymine

Guanine <==> Cytosine

The sides of the DNA


ladder are phosphate &
sugar held together by 
hydrogen bonds
DNA Structure
Because of this complementary base pairing,
the order of the bases in one strand
determines the order of the bases in the
other strand.
A T

C G

T A

C G

A T

G C

T A
Base Pair Rule
One side:     A   T   A      T   C   A      T   G   C      G   G   G

Other side:
DNA Structure
To crack the genetic code found in DNA we
need to look at the sequence of bases.

The bases are arranged in triplets called


codons.

AGG-CTC-AAG-TCC-TAG
TCC-GAG-TTC-AGG-ATC
DNA Structure
A gene is a section of DNA that codes for a
protein.

Each unique gene has a unique sequence of


bases.

This unique sequence of bases will code for the


production of a unique protein.

It is these proteins and combination of proteins


that give us a unique phenotype.
How the Code Works
The combination of A,T,G,C determines what
traits you might have, for ex.

C A T C A T   =  purple hair

T A C T A C  =  yellow hair
Think of the bases of DNA like
letters.

Letters form words....

Words form sentences....


 
              *endless
               combinations
Let's Review What We Know
About DNA
1.  DNA stands for:   De _____ ribo ______  acid
2.  What is the shape of DNA? _______________
3.  Adenine always pairs with _______________
4.  The sides of the DNA ladder are deoxyribose and _____
5.  Guanine always pairs with _____________
6.  What is the complimentary sequence:   A A T  G  C A
7.  The two sides of DNA are held together by _______
bonds.
8.  DNA is composed of repeating subunits called
______________________
9.  What are the 4 bases that make up the rungs of the DNA
ladder? _______________________________________

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