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to give it its proper scientic name. The
molecule has two intertwining STRANDSwith links across the middle, which formthe “stairs.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Despite its length, DNA is actually quitea simple molecule. Each strand consistsof a linear arrangement of basic chemical
units called NUCLEOTIDES. These come
in four different varieties, which can be
represented by the letters A, G, C, and
T. A single strand of DNA can have anysequence of these four letters.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Given the sequence of letters on oneDNA strand, we know instantly what thesequence of letters on the other strand must be, because the letters form complementarypairings. A always pairs with T, and G
always pairs with C.AATCATTCGGTACG
||||||||||||||
TTAGTAAGCCATGC
A DNA sequence is actually a strong of three-letter “words,” each word being thecode for an amino acid. So the sequence
AGCTTCCGATCGGTA, would actuallyread as AGC TTC CGA TCG GTA. Eachtriplet of letters species one of the 20amino acids. For example, the triplet AGCis the code for the amino acid serine; TTC
is the code for the amino acid known asphenylalanine; and so on.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~If the DNA from all the cells in the human body was stretched out and laid end toend, it would reach to the moon and back - a distance of more than 435,000 miles.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The DNA from a single human cell containsabout 3 billiion “letters.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The DNA molecule is a right handed helix.In other words, it coils in a clockwisedirection.Book-Get a Grip on Genetics by Martin Brookes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The number of genes varies betweendifferent species. Simple organisms like bacteria may have as few as 2,000 whilehumans have about 100,000 genes.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DNA is a Universal Code.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A triplet of DNA letters always code forthe same amino acid - no matter whether itappears in the genetic recipe of a bacterium,a cabbage, an aardvark, a human being, orany other species.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~We all start life as a single cell, created bya sperm from the father fusing with an egg
from the mother. The rst cell of a new lifewill divide by mitosis to produce a nal
count of billions. Each of these cells willcontain a genetic recipe which is identicalto the one present at conception.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Before a cell divides, each one of the 46chromosomes makes a copy of itself. Theoriginal and the copy are joined together at
a central point called the CENTROMERE.
The MEMBRANE of the nucleus dissolves
and a SPINDLE of protein bers forms on
which the chromosomes line up.
The spindle bers then pull apart each
chromosome and its copy to opposite endsof the cell.
The spindle bers dissolve, and
membranes form around each of the sets of
chromosomes. And nally...the cell divides
in two.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~DNA is a self replicating molecule.