DNA Structure

By the early 1900s it was known

that the chromosomes carry the
genetic (hereditary) information
Chromosomes consist of DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid)

I. Chemical Structure of DNA

A. Nucleotide:
1. Thousands of repeating units that
make up the DNA (DNA is a polymer)

a) a phosphate group
b) a deoxyribose molecule (5-carbon sugar)
c) a nitrogenous base
adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine
(There are four different types of
nucleotides, depending on which of the
four bases is present- A, T, C, or G)

II. The Watson-Crick Model of the

Structure of DNA
DNA consists of two chains of nucleotides
in a ladder-like structure which is twisted
(Double Helix)

James Watson & Francis Crick:

Used data of M.H.F. Wilkins and
Rosalind Franklin, early 50s
Wilkins and Franklin studied the structure
of DNA crystals using X-rays.
The X pattern suggested the structure of
DNA was a helix.
Distance between the two backbones of DNA
is constant along the length of the molecule

 Used data of Erwin Chargaff, 1940s

and early 50's
Chargaffs Rule: His data showed
that in each species, the percent of A
equals the percent of T, and the
percent of G equals the percent of C.

Watson and Crick (1953)

Watson and Crick Model:

A. The sides of the ladder are
made up of alternating
molecules of phosphate and
deoxyribose
B. The bases make up the rungs of
the ladder

C. The bases that make up the

rungs of the ladder are
attracted by a weak chemical
bonds called hydrogen bonds

Base Pairing Rule

Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T)
Guanine (G) pairs with Cytosine(C)

Structure of DNA Animations

http://207.207.4.198/pub/flash/24/menu.swf
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/genome/dna.html#

Watson and Cricks Double Helix

Model explained:
1. How replication of DNA during
mitosis produces exact copies for
the daughter cells
2. How DNA acts as a code,
specifying how proteins are made
by the cell

DNA Replication

1. The double-stranded DNA

molecule separates or
unzips along the weak
hydrogen bonds between the
base pairs

2. Free nucleotides that are

present in the nucleus attach
themselves by hydrogen
bonds to the exposed bases
(A-T, C-G)

3. Two identical strands form

from each strand of DNA

DNA Replication Animations

http://www.lewport.wnyric.org/JWANAMAKER/animations/DNA%20Rep
lication%20-%20long%20.html

http://www.johnkyrk.com/DNAreplication.html

 If the order of bases along one strand of

DNA is
AGGTTACTGCAC
what is the order of bases on the
complementary strand?

TCCAATGACGTG

How Does DNA Act As

A Code?
The order of bases on the
DNA strand instructs the
ribosomes how to
synthesize proteins

 Gene: portion of DNA

that codes for the
production of a specific
polypeptide

 Polypeptide: building
block of a protein

In terms of decreasing size:

Nucleus Chromosome Gene DNA