DNA encodes the genetic information that directs the cell how to make proteins a

nd RNAs
DNA - > RNA - > Protein
Info from our genes don't go directly from dna to protein
-Instead, the info carried in the nucleotide sequence of our genens is first
copied into an RNA intermediate (transcription)
-THe RNA is then used to build proteins (translation)
THe flow of gneteic info from DNA to RNA to Protein is referred to the Centeral
DOgma of MMolecular Biology
Discovering the function of DNA:
By 1940s, hereditary material known to reside on one or more chromosomes
CHromosomes are composed to chromatin which is a complex of DNA and protein
We knew proteins were made of 20 amino acids, and DNA was made of 4 nucleotides
-So it seemed logical that protein is genetic material bc of the diversity ne
eded, BUT IT WAS FOUND TO BE DNA (read experiment in book!)
DIscovering the structure of DNA:
Chargaff's Rules (1949): amount of each dNTP varies btw organisms, but [dA] = [d
T] and [dC] = [dG] in ALL organisms
Rosalind Franklin & Maurice Wilkins: x-ray differaction suggested helix of unifo
rm width with stacked bases, with sugar-phosphate on outside
James Watson & Francis Crick: only model that worked with the data is a double h
elix
-If DNA contains more than one chain of nucleotides, what forces hold them to
gether?
*If it's hydrogen bonds forming btw a purine on one strand and a pyrimid
ine on the other (has 2nm gap)
-Explains unifrom width and Chargaff's rules
-Only G can "fit" opposite C and A opposite T in order for groups to be preci
sely positioned for H-bonds to form btw them
*CAlled Watson-Crick or complementary base pairing
*G-C pairing is stronger and more stable (has more hydrogen bonds)
Double-stranded DNA is antiparallel (5'-3' ; 3'-5')
-Necessary for the base pairing to bond
-5' end has an available phosphate
-3' end has an available hydroxyl group