DNA-CODE OF LIFE

Cell

❖ it is the smallest basic unit of life

chromatin network

it is a thread-like structure and it unwinds to become chromosomes

Chromosomes

It contain the hereditary information

Hereditary information

It is the information about that can be pass from parents to offspring

Genes

It is the smallest portion that codes for a particular characteristics

It stores information that can be passed from parents to offspring

Two types of nucleic acids

❖ DNA Deoxyribose nucleic acid

❖ RNA Ribose Nucleic acid

Types of DNA

Nucleur-DNA

Mitochondria-DNA

Chloroplastic-DNA

DNA is found Intra (inside) the nucleus and on extra-nucleur ( outside) chloroplast and Mitochondria.

Types of RNA

Mesenger RNA (mRNA)

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

RNA is found mainly on Cytoplasm and partly on nucleus

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Nucleic acids (DNA & RNA ) is/are building blocks (monomers) called Nucleotides

Nucleotides consists if 3 parts

Phosphate group (P)

Sugar (S)

Nitrogenous base (NB)

Structure of Nucleotides

Similarities between RNA and DNA

Both contain phosphate group

Both contain sugar

Both contain nitrogenous base:

Adenine

Guanine

Cytosine

Both play role on protein synthesis

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The difference between RNA and DNA

RNA

Under – Age children GetGrant

U A C G

Uracil Adenine Cytosine Guanine

DNA

ALL Teacher Get Chocolate

A T G C

Adenine Thymine Guanine Cytosine

RNA DNA

Ribose sugar Deoxyribose

Single structure Double structure

Simple Complicated

Short Long

Location: Cytoplasm Location : Nucleus

Mitochondria
Nucleus Chloroplast
Nitrogenous base: Nitrogenous base:
Uracil Adenine
Adenine Thymine
Cytosine Guanine
Guanine Cytosine

Contain uracil instead of thymine Contain thymine instead of uracil

Very unstable molecule (easy to break) Very stable molecule

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Structure of DNA

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Structure of RNA

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History of DNA

▪ By the middle of 1900, many scientists were trying to work out the structure of DNA.
▪ Rosalind franklin was on x-Ray diffraction pattern of DNA at King College, London
▪ In 1953, James Watson a Microbiologist, and Francis Crick, a Physicist were both
working at the Cavendish laboratory in Cambridge
▪ Note: They used unpublished photographs and measurement taken by Rosalind
Franklin
▪ They were given photograph by Maurice Walkin and Max Perutz, without the
knowledge of Rosalind Franklin to work out the correct structure.
▪ The Photograph was stolen by Maurice Wilkin an intern(assistant) to Rosalind Franklin

▪ He disliked Rosalind Franklin

▪ In 1958, Rosalind Franklin was diagnosed with cancer and eventually died of it.
▪ In 1962, James Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkin were awarded Noble Prize.

(awarded on six outstanding work on Physics, chemistry, Physiology or medicine,

literature, economics and promotion of peace).

▪ Prize is not awarded post humously (something that happens after person died)
▪ Rosalind Franklin would have shared the award instead of Maurice Walkin.
▪ She died without knowing that those two men were able to build their model only
because they had been shown her work.
▪ James Watson still alive.
▪ Francis Crick and Maurice Walkins passed on 2004, and they were born on the same
year (1916).

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DNA Replication

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DNA Replication

▪ It is the process by which DNA make an identical copies of itself.

Where does it occur?

▪ It occurs before cell division (meiosis and mitosis)

Why does it occurs?

▪ To ensure that when cell divide each daughter cell has the same number of chromosomes
as the parent.
▪ In mitosis, it allows daughter cells to be identical to the parents.

How does it occur?

▪ Helicase the point at which DNA replication begins.

▪ Helicase brings about the procedure of separation.
▪ Double helix on DNA unwinds.
▪ Weak hydrogen bond between nitrogenous base break.
▪ DNA strand unzip/separate.
▪ Each original DNA strand act as template to form new strand.
▪ By attaching to free (3) nucleotides from the nucleoplasm.
▪ Polymerase enzyme makes new strands
▪ It then form complementary strands.
▪ Each DNA molecules now consists of 1 original strand.
▪ It’s then joined together by ligase enzyme
▪ The result is two genetically identical DNA molecules.
▪ The process is controlled by enzymes

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DNA Profiling

• It is a method of identifying an individual by comparing his/her DNA profile with

another known DNA.

DNA profile is made of:

• It is made of fluid or body tissue

Uses of DNA profiling

• It is used to identify genetic diseases such as: Cystic fibrosis

Hungtongton

Sickle cell anaemia

• Diagnosed inherited disorder.

Down syndrome, Tuner Syndrome, Haemophilia and Cystic fibrosis

• Developing cures for such disorders

• Biological evidence to identify criminals
• Identification of relatives
• Tracing siblings who has been separated at birth
• Identifying suitable donors
• Paternity testing

Debates (disadvantages ) around DNA profiling

• DNA profiling is expensive

• Human error may occur and lead to false results
• Small piece of DNA is analyzed, DNA profile may not be unique to an individual.
• DNA profiling is performed in private laboratories may not follow uniform testing
standard and quality controls
• DNA analyst may reveal personal information

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Figure 1

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Fingerprinting

It is useful way of identifying people and classifying them into groups.

Advantages of fingerprinting

Controlling of immigration
Identifying lost children
Identifying criminals
Identifying criminals
Identifying deceased bodies

Disadvantages of fingerprinting

People can be framed (falsely incriminated)

Invasion of privacy
It is very expensive
Human error
Not all people can be fingerprinted e.g. amputees

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Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis take place in 3 stages as follows:

(i) Transcription (ii) Movement (iii) Translation

(i) Transcription

The process by which DNA makes mRNA.

Formation of messenger RNA (mRNA).
mRNA carries the encoded message of which protein to make from the DNA to the
ribosomes
After mRNA has been formed, it moves from the nucleus to the ribosomes of the cell.
The next stage of the process takes place on the ribosomes.

DNA Double helix unwind

Weak hydrogen bonds of DNA break

Forming two single strand of DNA

One strand act as template

To form a complementary strand which is mRNA.

Using free RNA nucleotides from the nucleoplasm

The process is controlled by transcription

Three adjacent bases on mRNA make up codon

Which codes for an amino acids.

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Movement

Movement of the mRNA out of the nucleus.

mRNA moves through the nucleur pore

it attaches to the ribomes into the cytoplasm.

Translation

The process by mRNA is used to make protein synthesis.

▪ According to the codons of mRNA.

▪ RNA molecules with matching/complimentary anticodons
▪ Bring the required amino acids to the ribosome
▪ The amino acid are joined/linked together by peptide bond.
▪ To form the required protein synthesis
▪ The process is called protein synthesis

Figure 4

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Important Terminology

Codon The triplet of three consecutive bases on the mRNA

Anti-codon The triplet of three consecutive bases on the tRNA

DNA replication Production of identical copies of DNA

Double helix Natural shape of DNA molecules

Messenger RNA Molecules containing information for protein synthesis in its codons

Transfer RNA Molecules containing information for protein synthesis in it’s anti-codons

Transcription Formation of messenger RNA (mRNA) from DNA

Translation Formation of tRNA from mRNA to form protein synthesis.

Nucleus The site of DNA replication of transcription

Ribosome The site of protein synthesis

Nucleotides The building blocks (MONOMERS) consist of sugar, Phosphate and

Nitrogenous bases

Interphase Phase of cell cycle before cell division

Extra-nucleur DNA DNA which is found outside the nucleus i.e. Mitochondria and
Chloroplast

Intra-nucleur DNA which is found inside the nucleus

15 | P a g e Life Sciences Compiled by: Mr Netshikweta K.J