DNA

What Does DNA Look Like?

The Pieces of the Puzzle

• DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA is the

genetic material that determines inherited
characteristics.

• Nucleotides: The
Subunits of DNA DNA
is made of subunits
called nucleotides,
which consist of a
sugar, a phosphate, and
a base.
The Pieces of the Puzzle, continued
• The four nucleotides of DNA are identical except for
the base they contain.
• The four bases are ; adenine, thymine, guanine, and
cytosine.

Chargaff’s Rules
Erwin Chargaff found that the amount of adenine in
DNA always equals the amount of thymine, and the
amount of guanine always equals the amount of
cytosine.
DNA’s Double Structure

• The shape of DNA is known as a double helix.

• The two sides of the ladder are made of alternating

sugar parts and phosphate parts.

• The rungs of the ladder are made of a pair of bases

In these “rungs,” guanine always pairs with cytosine,
and adenine always pairs with thymine.
Making Copies of DNA
• During replication, a DNA molecule is split down the
middle, where the bases meet. The bases on each
side of the molecule are used as a pattern for a new
strand.

• When complete, each of the replicated DNA

molecules are half old DNA (the original template)
and half new DNA.
Making Copies of DNA, continued
• When Copies Are Made DNA is copied every time
a cell divides. Each new cell gets a complete copy of
all the DNA.

• The jobs of unwinding, copying, and rewinding the

DNA during replication is carried out by proteins.