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  • 7.1 DNA Structure

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    Hershey and Chase conducted experiments in 1952 that showed radioactive DNA from viruses was incorporated into infected bacteria, while radioactive proteins were not. This provided evidence that DNA, not proteins, was the genetic material. Franklin and Wilkins used X-ray diffraction to study DNA structure, revealing it was a double-stranded helix with the bases facing inward and phosphates outward, forming the signature DNA double helix shape. In eukaryotes, DNA is wrapped around histone proteins to form nucleosomes, which compact the DNA and protect it from damage.

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    Hershey and Chase conducted experiments in 1952 that showed radioactive DNA from viruses was incorporated into infected bacteria, while radioactive proteins were not. This provided evidence that DNA, not proteins, was the genetic material. Franklin and Wilkins used X-ray diffraction to study DNA structure, revealing it was a double-stranded helix with the bases facing inward and phosphates outward, forming the signature DNA double helix shape. In eukaryotes, DNA is wrapped around histone proteins to form nucleosomes, which compact the DNA and protect it from damage.

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    11 views1 page

    7.1 DNA Structure

    Uploaded by

    Kamilion Fn
    Hershey and Chase conducted experiments in 1952 that showed radioactive DNA from viruses was incorporated into infected bacteria, while radioactive proteins were not. This provided evidence that DNA, not proteins, was the genetic material. Franklin and Wilkins used X-ray diffraction to study DNA structure, revealing it was a double-stranded helix with the bases facing inward and phosphates outward, forming the signature DNA double helix shape. In eukaryotes, DNA is wrapped around histone proteins to form nucleosomes, which compact the DNA and protect it from damage.

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    Topic 7.

    1: DnA STRuCTuRE
    Genetic Material

    Hershey and Chase conducted experiments in 1952 to determine if DNA or proteins were the genetic material of a cell

    It was previously known that viruses insert their genetic material into cells and so radioactively labeled viruses were prepared
    •  Viruses grown in 35S had radioactive proteins but did not transfer this radioactivity to bacterium (remained in supernatant)
    •  Viruses grown in 32P had radioactive DNA and did transfer this radioactivity to infected bacterium (found in pellet)

    Experiment 1: Testing Protein with 35S Experiment 2: Testing DNA with 32P

    300 300

    Protein Radioactive DNA Radioactive


    Infection Centrifuge labelled Infection Centrifuge pellet
    labelled supernatant

    Conclusion: Proteins not genetic material Conclusion: DNA is the genetic material

    X-ray Diffraction

    Franklin and Wilkins used X-ray diffraction to elucidate DNA structure


    •  X-rays will diffract when targeted at crystallised DNA molecules
    •  The scattering pattern created can be used to determine structure

    From the patterns generated, the following properties were deduced: Wilkins
    •  Composition: DNA is a double-stranded molecule
    •  Orientation: The bases face inwards and the phosphates face out
    •  Shape: DNA forms a double helix (10 bases per twist) Wilkins Diffraction Franklin

    Nucleosomes Non-Coding DNA

    In eukaryotes, DNA associates with eight Some regions of DNA do not code for protein
    DNA H1
    histone proteins to form a nucleosome
    •  Satellite DNA (tandem repeats)
    •  Telomeres (chromosome ends)
    Nucleosomes help to supercoil the DNA
    •  Introns (non-coding sequences)
    •  Makes DNA compact (better storage)
    •  Prevents DNA damage (less exposed) •  Non-coding RNA genes
    •  Gene regulatory sequences
    •  Assists in cell division (more mobility)
    •  Involved in transcriptional regulation Histones (octamer) Tandem repeats are used in DNA profiling

    Eukaryotic Organisation of DNA

    DNA is bound with histone proteins to form nucleosomes that are then linked together to form strings of chromatosomes
    These coil to form solenoids, which condense into 30 nm fibres, before being compressed and folded into chromatin

    DNA Nucleosome Chromatosome Solenoid 30 nm fibre Chromatin Chromosome

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