Molecular Genetics DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid is a double stranded coiled structure found in the nucleus of the cell.

. It contains genetic information that is important for all cellular functions. Nucleotide The nucleotide is the basic unit of DNA. The nucleotide consists of a deoxyribose, phosphate group and nitrogenous bases. Types of nitrogenous bases Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G) and Thymine (T) Each base combines with a deoxyribose sugar and phosphate group to form different nucleotide molecules. Polynucleotides Long chains of nucleotides joined together. Formed when the phosphate group of one nucleotide joins to the sugar of another. Polynucleotides can have many sequences of nucleotides. Certain sections of polynucleotides from genes. Complementary Base Pairing The DNA molecule consists of two anti-parallel (in opposite directions) polynucleotide chains coiled to from a double helix. The two polynucleotide strands are held together by complementary strands. Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T). Adenine and Thymine are therefore called complementary base pairs. Guanine (G) pairs with Cytosine (C). Hence, the ratio between Adenine (A) to Thymine (T) and Guanine (G) to Cytosine (C) is always 1:1.

Organisation of DNA in a cell Each DNA is tightly coiled around protein molecules, which is further coiled into a chromatin thread. During cell division, chromatin threads coil even more to form chromosomes in the nucleus. The Gene and Genetic Code A gene is a section of DNA (sequence of nucleotides) that contains information for the synthesis of a single polypeptide. The type of polypeptide is determined by the nucleotide sequence. Each set of three bases form a codon which codes for one amino acid. The genetic code specifies which amino acid each codon codes for. A genetic mutation alters the nucleotide sequence affecting the structure and function of the polypeptide formed. Only one of the polynucleotide chains in genes codes for the polypeptide. The other non-coding strand is called the DNA template. As one gene codes for one polypeptide, more than one gene is required to code an entire protein. Protein Synthesis Protein synthesis in the cell involves transcription (transferring the instructions) and translation (decoding and synthesis). Transcription is the transfer of genetic information from DNA to a short strand of ribonucleic acid (RNA). The sugar unit is ribose and RNA contains uracil instead of Thymine (T). Translation whereby information encoded in the RNA is used to synthesise a polypeptide. Sequences of amino acids are determined by sequences of nucleotides in RNA. Genetic Engineering