Unit I NEUCLIC ACID STRUCTURE AND GENOME ORGANIZATION

GAYATRI DAVE

Contents .
DNA as a genetic material, DNA structure, DNA topology, supercoiling, topoisomerases I and II, C- value paradox, structure of mRNA, rRNA and tRNA; packaging in viruses, prokaryotes and eukaryotes, structure of chromatin and chromosomes, DNA- protein interactions, interrupted genes, gene families, unique and repetitive DNA, transposons

DNA as genetic material

DNA was first extracted from nuclei in 1870 named nuclein after their source. Chemical analysis determined that DNA was a weak acid rich in phosphorous. Three landmark experiments that proved DNA as the genetic material Frederick Griffiths discovery of transformation 1944 Oswald Avery, Colin MacLeod, and MacIyn McCarty determined that DNA is the transformation material Hershey and Chase experiment

transformation of bacteria

3b

DNA STRUCTURE

4 players

The pioneer work

The composition

Chemistry

Nucleotide

X-ray diffraction

The blueprint-physical geometry

34A

3.34 A

DNA double helix

Features A pair with T, G pair with C Antiparellel Right and left handed double helix Three different form of DNA exist Some alternative DNA structures may exist