1. DNA is the Hereditary Material

2. Simple Definitions
Genome: Complete set of sequences in the genetic material of an organism.
Nucleic Acids: Molecules that encode genetic information.
Chromosome: A discrete unit of the genome carrying many genes.
Gene (or cistron) is the segment of DNA specifying production of a polypeptide chain.

3. History of Genetics

4. The Central Dogma

5. DNA is the genetic material of bacteria

6. DNA is the genetic material of viruses

7. DNA is the genetic material of eukaryotic cells

8. Structure of Nucleic Acids
Sugar
Phosphate
Nitrogenous bases linked to it
DNA or RNA

9. A nucleoside is: a purine or pyrimidine base linked to position 1 of a pentose.
Positions on the pentose are labeled with a prime (‘)
RNA has a ribose sugar with OH in position 2’
DNA has a deoxyribose sugar with only H on position 2’
A nucleotide= base + sugar + phosphate
The phosphate link the sugar together between the 3’ and 5’ position of the successive sugars
They make a polynucleotide
One end of the chain has one 5’ end free and the other end a 3’ end free.
We write the 5’ end by convention on the left.

10. DNA
Deoxyribose
Double stranded. The strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs.
Base pairing: Adenine-Thymine and Cytosine-Guanine
Double helix.
Antiparallel
Minor groove is 12 Å
Major groove is 22 Å
The helix is right-handed (turns clockwise along the axis)