1. STAAR Notebook 2

2. DNA

3. DNA stands for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid.
Nucleic acids like DNA are long chains of nucleotides.
Every nucleotide has 3 parts.
Phosphate
Group
Nitrogenous
base
Sugar
(Deoxyribose)
The sugar-phosphate
backbone provides shape
and structure
DNA contains 4 different nucleotides that each have a different nitrogenous base.
Nitrogenous bases
pair up along the
middle of the DNA
Hydrogen bonds
hold the strands
together
1. Adenine
2. Thymine
3. Guanine
4. Cytosine

4. DNA A pairs with T G pairs with C The double-helix shape makes
DNA look like a
twisted ladder!
This X-ray photograph taken by Rosalind
Franklin gave scientists evidence that DNA was in the shape of a double-helix.
Because of the way bases pair, DNA always contains the
same amounts of A & T, and the same amounts of G & C.
The instructions for specific traits are carried by the sequence of nucleotides.
The order of nitrogenous bases determines the order of amino acids in a protein!

5. STAAR Questions
DNA

6. F

7. H

8. G

9. A

10. B

11. H

12. The Genetic Code

13. Organisms pass inherited traits to their offspring through genetic material.
ALL living things contain genetic material in the form of DNA.
The genes of ALL living things are made from the same building blocks: the nucleotides A, T, G, and C!
ALL living things are made from the same building blocks: the nucleotides A, T, G, and C!
ALL living things share a common genetic code! This means that all living things use the information in DNA to make proteins in the same way.

14. STAAR Questions
The Genetic Code

15. G

16. F

17. C

18. Transcription and Translation

19. TRANSCRIPTION
Information in the DNA is transcribed so that it can be used by the cell.
Base Pairing:
RNA is very similar to DNA, but it contains Uracil (U) instead of Thymine (T)!
Product: Messenger RNA (mRNA)

20. TRANSLATION Product: Protein The genetic code is translated into a
specific sequence of amino acids.
Product:
Protein
(Amino Acid Sequence)
Ribosomes direct the
translation of proteins.
Proteins are just long
sequences of amino acids!

21. Using a Codon Chart Starting with DNA Translating mRNA
Step 1: Transcribe the DNA into mRNA
Step 2: Put a line after every 3rd nucleotide
Step 3: Use the mRNA codon chart to
translate each 3 letter codon into an amino acid
Translating mRNA
Step 1: Put a line after every 3 nucleotides to define the reading frame.
Step 2: Use the mRNA codon chart to translate each 3 letter codon into an amino acid

22. Transcription and Translation
STAAR Questions
Transcription and Translation

23. F

24. J

25. A

26. Gene Expression

27. Genes for fur color can be regulated by temperature.
Expressed
Gene expression describes how genes are used to determine traits.
Gene expression is a regulated process that is controlled by the cell. This means cells can turn genes ON or OFF!
Every cell in your body contains a complete set of DNA.
Cells become specialized by regulating gene expression!
Genes for fur color can be
regulated by temperature.
Gene expression can be influenced by environmental factors.

28. STAAR Questions
Gene Expression

29. F

30. J

31. G

32. Mutations

33. Insertion Substitution Deletion
A mutation is a change to the sequence of nucleotides in DNA
Insertion
Nucleotides are
added to the DNA
Deletion
Nucleotides are
removed from the DNA
Substitution
A single nucleotide
is replaced

34. Mutations can cause
codon sequences to be incorrect. This can change the amino acids in the protein being made!
Silent mutations are changes to DNA that do NOT change the
amino acids in a protein.
Frame shifts are when insertions or deletions change the reading frame. This can change EVERY codon!

35. Only mutations to gamete cells are inherited by offspring.
Inherited diseases are the result of changes to the DNA.
Mutations are also a source of genetic variations. The
differences in these species of finch are the result of mutations.

36. STAAR Questions
Mutations

37. B

38. F

39. H

40. J

41. J

42. H

43. Quiz Next Class!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Study STAAR 2 for Quiz next class!
Will count double in the gradebook!