DNA

All living things contain a blueprint for the entire organism inside a special molecule known as _____.

DNA stands for _____________________. A DNA molecule is a long repeating chain

of ___________.

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid

nucleotides

Every nucleotide in DNA has 3 parts:

1: The ___________ group.

2: A ________ named ___________.

3: One of the 4 ________ bases.

phosphate

sugar deoxyribose

nitrogen

1

2

3

The sugar and the phosphate are on the outside of the DNA molecule, so they combine to form the sugar-phosphate __________ of DNA. backbone

On the inside of the molecule you will find the __________ bases. nitrogen

The 4 nitrogen bases in DNA are:

A T G C

Adenine Thymine Guanine Cytosine

Quick QuestionQ: Why do you think they are called

the nitrogen bases?

A: Because they all contain the element nitrogen!

The instructions for the organism are carried by the __________________________ like the code in a computer program. This information is used to make the _________ which direct all of the metabolic processes of the cell.

proteins

sequence of nitrogen bases

T G A C G T CA

As you can see in the diagram, two chains of nucleic acids join together to form a _________________ molecule of DNA. When this happens, the double-stranded DNA twists into the shape of a ____________. This looks similar to the shape of a twisted ladder.

double-stranded

double helix

Understanding how DNA is packaged:DNA is a very long molecule that is thousands of nucleotides long. These long molecules are wound and wound into a very dense units known as _____________. These _____________ contain so much DNA that they are large enough to see with an optical microscope.

chromosomeschromosomes

Human Chromosomes

Important Fact:1. If a cell has a nucleus for the DNA, it is called a ____________ cell.2. If a cell does NOT have a nucleus for the DNA, it is called a _____________ cell.

Decide if the following cells are prokaryotic or eukaryotic:

prokaryotic

eukaryotic

______________ ______________

______________ ______________

prokaryote eukaryote

prokaryote eukaryote

While DNA is considered the _____________ for the entire organism, it is important that you understand

that DNA only has the instructions for making one thing: ____________.

blueprint

proteins

protein

Everything about you is determined by how __________ interact, and the instructions for making them are stored inside of the _______. We will spend the next few lessons learning exactly how this works.

proteinsDNA

DNA base pairing:The nitrogen bases between the two strands of a double-stranded DNA molecule will pair together in a very specific way. Determine which nitrogen bases pair together based on the diagram on the front of this page or on the screen.

______ pairs with ______

______ pairs with ______

A T

G C

Q: Compare the letters in each pair. How can you remember that these go together?

A: __________________________________________

A pairs with T G pairs with C

The letters made with straight lines go together.

ORA: ____________________________________________The letters made with curved lines go together.

CAN YOU THINK OF ANY OTHER CREATIVE WAYS TO REMEMBER?