DNA Deoxyribonucleic Acid de ox y rib o nu cleic acid Student note: 1

Why is it critical to understand DNA? 2

The Association of Telomere Length With Family Violence and Disruption WHAT’S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Poor health in children is associated with exposure to family violence and disruption. Telomere length has been hypothesized to be a lasting biological indicator of exposure to early adversity and potentially predictive of negative health outcomes throughout the life course. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: Telomere length reflects exposure to family violence and disruption and may be an early indicator of the biological impact of early adversity. Children exposed to interpersonal violence and family disruptions had significantly shorter telomeres. 3

Why is it critical to understand DNA? 4

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Credible Sources National Human Genome Research Institute National Institute of Health National Library of Medicine 6

Learning Intentions Students will be able to closely examine graphics to determine information about DNA. Students will be able to answer each of these questions. What is DNA? How is DNA structured? Where is DNA found? What are chromosomes? What are genes? How does DNA work? 7

What is DNA? Biological instructions - that make each species unique Biological instructions used in - development - functioning - reproduction of living organisms Analogy – Like a blue print. 8

How is DNA structured? The information in DNA is stored as a CODE made up of four chemical bases. - adenine (A) - guanine (G) - cytosine (C) - thymine (T) 9

How is DNA structured? (slide 10 & 11) DNA bases pair up with each other A with T C with G 10

How is DNA structured? DNA bases pair up with each other A with T C with G 11

How is DNA structured? (slides 12 & 13) Each base is also attached to a sugar molecule and a phosphate molecule. Together a base, sugar and phosphate are called a nucleotide. 12

How is DNA structured? Each base is also attached to a sugar molecule and a phosphate molecule. Together a base, sugar and phosphate are called a nucleotide. 13

How is DNA structured? Nucleotides are arranged in two long strands that form a spiral called a double helix. 14

How is DNA structured? (slides 15 & 16) The structure of the double helix is somewhat like a ladder- with base pairs forming the ladder’s rungs and the sugar and phosphate molecules forming the vertical side pieces of the ladder. 15

How is DNA structured? The structure of the double helix is somewhat like a ladder- with base pairs forming the ladder’s rungs and the sugar and phosphate molecules forming the vertical side pieces of the ladder. 16

How is DNA structured? The structure of the double helix is somewhat like a ladder- with base pairs forming the ladder’s rungs and the sugar and phosphate molecules forming the vertical side pieces of the ladder. 17

How is DNA structured? The order or sequence of these bases determines the information available for building and maintaining an organism. Analogy – The sequence of letters determines the message. Read... Dear

Where is DNA found? - Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus where it is called nuclear DNA. 19

What are chromosomes? (slides 19 and 20) Because the cell is very small, and because organisms have many DNA molecules per cell, each DNA molecule must be tightly packaged. This packaged form of the DNA is called a chromosome. 20

What are chromosomes? In the nucleus of each cell, the DNA molecule is packaged into thread- like structures called chromosomes. 21

What are genes? (slide 21 and 22) Genes A gene is a short section of DNA. Each gene codes for a specific protein by specifying the order in which amino acids must be joined together. 22

What are genes? A gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity. Genes, which are made up of DNA, act as instructions to make molecules called proteins. 23

How does DNA work? DNA contains instructions needed for an organism to develop survive reproduce 24

How does DNA work? To carry out these functions DNA sequences must be converted into messages that can be used to produce proteins, which are complex, molecules that do most of the work in our bodies. 25

Learning Intentions Students will be able to closely examine graphics to determine information about DNA. Students will be able to answer each of these questions. What is DNA? How is DNA structured? Where is DNA found? What are chromosomes? What are genes? How does DNA work? 26