Information molecules Nucleic acids: Information molecules 2006-2007
Nucleic Acids Examples DNA RNA DeoxyriboNucleic Acid RiboNucleic Acid
Nucleic Acids Function: genetic material stores information genes blueprint for building proteins DNA RNA proteins transfers information blueprint for new cells blueprint for next generation DNA proteins
Genes (DNA) are needed to run bodies every day… C G Genes (DNA) are needed to run bodies every day… to make you and me… to make new cells… to make babies!
Nucleic acids 5 different nucleotides Building block = nucleotides nucleotide – nucleotide – nucleotide – nucleotide 5 different nucleotides different nitrogen bases A, T, C, G, U Nitrogen bases I’m the A,T,C,G or U part! phosphate sugar N base
Nucleotide chains Nucleic acids nucleotides chained into a polymer DNA phosphate sugar N base Nucleotide chains Nucleic acids nucleotides chained into a polymer DNA double-sided double helix A, C, G, T RNA single-sided A, C, G, U phosphate sugar N base strong bonds phosphate sugar N base phosphate sugar N base RNA
DNA Double strand twists into a double helix weak bonds between nitrogen bases join the 2 strands A pairs with T A :: T C pairs with G C :: G the two strands can separate when our cells need to make copies of it weak bonds It’s a helix or B sheet within a single region. Can have both in one protein but a specific region is one or another
Copying DNA Replication copy DNA 2 strands of DNA helix are complementary they are matching have one, can build other have one, can rebuild the whole when cells divide, they must duplicate DNA exactly for the new “daughter” cells Why is this a good system?
Newly copied strands of DNA DNA replication Copying DNA pairing of the bases allows each strand to serve as a pattern for a new strand The greatest understatement in biology! Newly copied strands of DNA
Watson and Crick … and others… 1953 | 1962 Watson and Crick … and others…
HELIXHELIX Let’s build some DNA!