© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR DNA What is DNA?

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR What is DNA? DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid A molecule that stores all genetic information to make you, you! “Instruction manual for life.”

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR What does DNA do? It gives operating instructions to almost all the cells in your body. Examples: –color of your hair –how many toes you have –how to breathe –where your organs should be located –how fast you should grow –your risk for diabetes and heart disease

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR All living things have DNA.

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR Where is DNA? Your body is made up of millions of cells. DNA is in the nucleus of each cell. Let’s take a closer look.

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR What does DNA look like? DNA looks like spaghetti or a twisted strand of yarn. Double helix

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR What is DNA made up of? 26 words. sentence. How many letters are in the alphabet? When you arrange the letters in certain ways, you get thousands of different When you put these words into meaningful order, you get a A sentence expresses a thought or idea. That’s how DNA works, too.

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR DNA’s Alphabet DNA has only 4 letters. A, T, G, C When these four letters are put into certain arrangements,it “codes” or “spells” out an instruction to your cells. DNA can only spell 3-letter words.

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR What are these letters? They are like initials. Adenine, Thymine, Guanine and Cytosine = A = G = T = C

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR Example ATGCAGATACGC aa 1 aa 2 aa 3 aa 4 ATGCAGATACGC Doyourhomework. ATGCAGATACGC aa 1 -aa 2 -aa 3 -aa 4 Protein X

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR DNA replication When you are born, the nucleus in all your cells have lots of DNA. DNA can replicate (copy) itself and produce messengers (instructions) when needed. Using these instructions, specific proteins are produced in cells throughout your body. ATGCAGATACGC are the instruction for protein X

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR Transport oxygen Fight disease Digestion

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR What happens when you don’t have any protein in your diet? Your body will not have enough “building blocks” to carry out its daily tasks. ATGCAGATACGCG AT CA ATAC C Digestion Transport oxygen Fight disease GG ATGCA ATACGC ATGCA ATAC C AAAATTCCC

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR The big picture Eat protein: –stomach and intestine break it down to amino acids –amino acids are absorbed into the blood. –they enter cells, and are used, following the instructions stored in DNA to make protein that are then used to carry out vital cell functions. This is why protein is very important in your diet. Eggs, poultry, fish, beef, legumes, and dairy products.

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR DNA Helix Model A  T G  C

© 2008 Program ENERGY Program ENERGY is funded by SEPA grant number 5R25RR Program ENERGY is funded by a Science Education Partnership Award from the National Center for Research Resources/National Institutes of Health in partnership with the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at Colorado State University