The Genetic Material DNA deoxyribose nucleic acid DNA
The Genetic Material
DNA = deoxyribose nucleic acid DNA is the genetic material found in the nucleus that contains all the instructions for life. DNA is passed from parent cells to daughter cells after it is copied during the cell cycle
In 1953 James Watson and Francis Crick, figured out the structure of DNA. Rosalind Franklin also made very important contributions to the discovery of DNA!
DNA is shaped like a twisted ladder or a spiral staircase. Because of the shape it is often called a double helix
The two sides of the ladder are made of sugar called deoxyribose The sugar molecules alternate with phosphate molecules Each rung (middle sections) are made of a pair of molecules called nitrogen bases.
a. b. c. d. How would you describe the shape of DNA? Twisted ladder Spiral staircase Double helix All of the above
Adenine (A) Thymine(T) Guanine(G) Cytosine (C)
Base pairs always bond with the same partner! A-T C-G
The arrangement of nitrogen bases in the DNA forms a chemical code That is why DNA is known as a genetic code! Sections in the chromosome are called genes and they carry the “code” for different traits (hair color/eye color/etc. )
a. b. c. DNA is known as: The brain of the cell The powerhouse The genetic code
Replication is the processes of making DNA copies What phase of the cell cycle does this happen?
A cell makes a copy of its DNA before mitosis occurs. (Interphase!) DNA replication makes sure that each daughter cell will have identical genetic information from the parent cell. Without DNA replication life would end as we know it!!!
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