A.

The Structure of DNA

1. DNA consists of two molecules that are
arranged into a twisted ladder
structure called a double helix

2. A molecule of DNA is made up of

millions
of tiny subunits called nucleotides
3. Each nucleotide consists of:
Phosphate group
Sugar (deoxyribose)
Nitrogen base

Nucleotide
Phosphat
e

Nitrogen
Base
Sugar

4. The phosphate and sugar form the

sides (backbone) of the DNA
molecule
5. The bases form the rungs

6. There are four types of nitrogen bases:

C = cytosine
T = thymine
A = adenine
G = guanine

Adenine

Thymine

Cytosine

Guanine

7. Each base will only bond with one other

specific base:
Adenine (A)
Thymine (T)
Cytosine (C)
Guanine (G)

Form a base pair

Form a base
pair

DNA Structure
To crack the genetic code found in

DNA we need to look at the sequence

of bases.
The bases are arranged in triplets

called codons.
AGG-CTC-AAG-TCC-TAG
TCC-GAG-TTC-AGG-ATC

d. combination of bases is the code

that
produces the genes for a particular
trait
*ATCGTCAGG may be for hair color
or
*ATCGTCAGC may be for eye color
e. because there can be so many
different
ATGAGCTGTACGATCGTG
combinations of the bases the
TACTCGACATGCTAGCAC
code can
be limitless
DoublestrandedDNA

B. Replication Process
cell

* replication = the process by which a

makes a copy of the DNA in its

nucleus.

1. the two sides of the DNA molecule

unwind and separate
* unzips between base pairs

2. nitrogen bases floating in the

nucleus
pair up with the bases on each
half of
the DNA molecule (A-T & C-G)
3. two identical strands of DNA are
formed

A
C
T
C
A

T
G
A
G
T

During DNA replication, which

base pairs with guanine?

Cytosine