Introduction to DNA 1. Why do Biologists call DNA “the genetic blueprint for life”? 1a. DNA contains all the information an organism needs to make all the proteins necessary for life.

Introduction to DNA 2. What is DNA replication? 2a. The process in which a cell makes a copy of its DNA before dividing.

Introduction to DNA 3. What are genes? 3a. Genes are specific places along a DNA molecule that carry instructions for how to make proteins. 3b. These proteins then combine to make more complex structures, like your skin, hair, and eyes.

Introduction to DNA 3. What are genes? 3a. Genes are specific places along a DNA molecule that carry instructions for how to make proteins. 3b. These proteins then combine to make more complex structures, like your skin, hair, and eyes.

Introduction to DNA 4. What are heritable characteristics? 4a. The traits (hair color, eye color, etc…) that are passed from one generation to the next. 4b. The instructions to create these traits are passed from parent to offspring through your genes.

Introduction to DNA 5. What is gene expression? 5a. Biologist say a gene is expressed when the trait it represents (hair color, eye color, etc…) appears in the organism.

Introduction to DNA 6. Why is the structure of DNA so unique? 6a. DNA is structured to split down the middle so that each half can be easily copied.

Introduction to DNA 7a. DNA is made up of a chain of nucleotides. 7. What is DNA made out of? 7a. DNA is made up of a chain of nucleotides. 7b. Each nucleotide has 3 pairs. 1. Deoxyribose sugar 2. Phosphate group 3. Nitrogenous Base

Introduction to DNA 8a. There are 4 types of Nitrogen Bases 8. Type of Nitrogen Bases 8a. There are 4 types of Nitrogen Bases 1. Adenine (A) 2. Guanine (G) 3. Thymine (T) 4. Cytosine (C)

Introduction to DNAc 9. Complimentary Strands. 9a. These 4 bases pair up with each other to form the basic structure of DNA. -Adenine (A) always pairs with Thymine (T) -Cytosine (C) always pairs with Guanine (G)

Introduction to DNA 10. How are the strands held together? 10. Each nitrogen base pair is connected to its complementary partner by a WEAK hydrogen bond.

Introduction to DNA 11. DNA the Double Helix 11a. The resulting structure is what we call a double helix. 11b. You can visualize this as a “twisted ladder” Each side of the ladder is the sugar-phosphate backbone. The rungs are the Nitrogen Base Pairs.