Chapter 6 Section 1

 List 3 important events that led to

understanding the structure of DNA

 Describe the basic structure of a DNA

molecule

 Explain how DNA molecules can be copied

 Inherited characteristics are determined by
genes…
 Genes are passed from generation to

generation…
 Genes are parts of chromosomes…
 Chromosomes are made of proteins & DNA…
 DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid
 DNA is the genetic material that determines

inherited characteristics
 Material that makes up genes can do 2
things…
◦ Give instructions for building & maintaining cells

◦ Must be able to be copied each time a cell divides –

each cell will contain identical genes

 This could be done with complex molecules

(proteins)
 Nucleotides: consist of a sugar, a phosphate,
& a base
 Nucleotides are identical except for the base

 The 4 bases are:

◦ ADENINE
◦ THYMINE
◦ GUANINE
◦ CYTOSINE
 Each base has a different shape

 Bases are referred to using their first letter

 A – adenine
 T – thymine
 G – guanine
 C - cytosine
http://www.freewebs.com/genetics37/4Nucleotides.JPG
 Erwin Chargaff (1950’s biochemist)

 Discovered that the amount of adenine

always = the amount of thymine

 The amount of guanine always = the amount

of cytosine

 These rules helped scientists to better

understand the structure of DNA
 Rosalind Franklin (Britain) – made images of
DNA molecules

 Using X-ray diffraction to make the images

 X-rays are aimed at the DNA molecule, the

pattern made by rays bouncing off is
captured on film

 Showed the spiral shape

http://www.uic.edu/classes/bios/bios100/lectures/x-ray-diffraction.gif
 Proposed that DNA structure was like a long
twisted ladder

 Their model perfectly fit Chargaff and

Franklin’s findings

 The model helped to explain how DNA is

copied and functions in a cell
http://www.nature.com/scitable/nated/content/24263/sadava_11_8_large_2.jpg
 The double ladder design is known as the
double helix

 2 sides of the ladder are made of alternating

sugar & phosphate parts

 The rungs are made of a pair of bases

 A pairs with T; G pairs with C

 Pairing of bases allows the cell to replicate
(make copies of) DNA

 Each base always bonds with only one other

base (complementary bases)

 Example: the sequence CGAC bonds to the

sequence GCTG
 During replication, a DNA molecule is split
down the middle where the bases meet

 Each side is used as a pattern for a new

strand

 Complementary nucleotides are added to

each side of the ladder

 2 DNA molecules are formed

http://library.thinkquest.org/C006188/basics/pictures/dna_replication.gif
 DNA is copied every time a cell divides

 Each new cell gets a complete copy of all the

DNA

 The job of unwinding, copying, and re-winding

the DNA is done by the proteins within the cell

 Other proteins help to carry out instructions in

the code of the DNA
 Holt Science and Technology: Life Science.
Austin: Holt Rinehart & Winston, 2007. Print.