Do Now Look at the picture below and answer the following questions. What do you think this picture is representing? Write out all observable traits of this picture. (IE: The lines connecting the two sides are different colors, etc).

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DNA is the information molecule DNA is a molecule that stores information Carries all the information that a cell needs to function, grow, and divide HOWEVER, PROTEINS do the work.

Proteins and amino acids Proteins are large molecules that are made up of chains of amino acids. Amino Acids: proteins connected together.

What do we use proteins for? Building cell parts Repairing damage to the body Fighting disease Regulating the speed of chemical reactions in the body (enzymes).

How does this relate to DNA? DNA stores the information that cells need to make sure they put together the amino acids in the right order. The order must be correct in order to make proteins.

Nucleotide Bases Nucleotide bases form the rungs of the ladder. Four nucleotides: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C) and guanine (G).

Way to remember adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine All Tigers Can Growl

Fast Facts What we’re going to be doing: There is chart paper around the room. Each person will grab a marker from me and then find a place on the wall. Once we are on the wall, I’ll be explaining exactly what we are going to be doing.

Replication During replication DNA strands are as templates used to make copies of new strands. Here is how it happens: The DNA molecule opens up, separating into two strands. Nucleotides match up and join to the open DNA strands. Two identical DNA molecules are formed.

Guided Practice:P1 Turn to Page C137 and C138. Draw the diagram labeled replication at the bottom of the page. Make sure you label it. You have 10 minutes. Hint: replication means to “repeat”

Guided Practice With a partner, answer the following question Describe the differences among DNA, genes and Chromosomes. How are they related? Once you are done: Turn to page C137 and C138 and copy the pictures and label them in your notes. (25 pts)

Answers: Genes are units of heredity that are located in DNA. DNA-molecules that stores information (about your genetic make up) Chromosomes- this is the form that DNA takes when cells divide. (DNA coils up into chromosomes)

Independent Practice Describe the shape of the DNA molecule and how the nucleotide bases fit into that structure. What is a protein and what is it made of?

On that paper… Let’s decode our names! For each letter of the alphabet, geneticists have assigned a specific codon (group of three nucleotides. We are going to be using the list below and write our the codon for our names.

Our Alphabet    Amino Acid Name Simplified Codon A   Alanine GCT B GCA (Alanine) C Cysteine TGC D Aspartic acid GAT E Glutamic acid GAG F Phenylalanine TTT G Glycine GGG H Histidine CAT I Isoleucine ATA J ATC (Isoleucine) K Lysine AAG L Leucine CTC M Methionine ATG N Asparagine GAC O GAT (Asparagine) P Proline CCC Q Glutamine R Arginine CGT S Serine TCA T Threonine ACT U ACG (Threonine) V Valine GTC W Tryptophan TGG X GTA (Valine) Y Tyrosine TAC Z TAT (Tyrosine)

Exit Ticket Adenine matches with __________________. A. Thymine B. Cytosine C. Guanine D. Uracine Cytonine matches with _________________. B. Adenine What’s the job of DNA?