U2L6 DNA Structure and Function Notes

Unit 2 Lesson 6 DNA Structure and Function
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Cracking the Code

What is DNA?
• The genetic material in cells is contained in a

molecule called deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA.
• Scientists describe DNA as containing a code. A

code is a set of rules and symbols used to carry
information.
• To understand how DNA functions, you first need

to learn about the structure of the DNA molecule.

How was DNA discovered?
• Many scientists from all over the world contributed

to our understanding of DNA.
• Some scientists discovered the chemicals that

make up DNA, and others learned how these
chemicals fit together.
• Still others determined the three-dimensional

structure of the DNA molecule.

Unraveling DNA
What does DNA look like?
• Experiments and imaging techniques have helped

scientists to infer the shape of DNA.
• The structure of DNA is a twisted ladder shape

called a double helix.

• The two sides of the ladder are made of sugars

and phosphate groups.
• The rungs of the ladder are made of pairs of bases.

• A base, a sugar, and a phosphate group make a

building block of DNA called a nucleotide.
• There are four different nucleotides in DNA.

• The bases in nucleotides are paired, or

complementary.
• Adenine always pairs with thymine (A-T).
• Cytosine always pairs with guanine (C-G).
• The order of the nucleotides in DNA is a code that

carries information.

• Genes are segments of DNA that relate to a certain

trait.
• The code in the nucleotide order has information

about which proteins the cells should build.
• The types of proteins that your body makes help

determine your traits.

Replication and Mutation

How are copies of DNA made?
• The cell makes copies of DNA molecules through a

process known as replication.
• During replication, the two strands of DNA

separate.
• The bases on each side of the molecule are used

as a pattern for a new strand.

• As bases on the original molecule are exposed,

complementary nucleotides are added.
• When replication is complete, there are two

identical DNA molecules.

• Describe what is happening in the diagram.

When are copies of DNA made?
• Before a cell divides, it copies its DNA.
• Our cells can replicate DNA in just a few hours,

because replication begins in many places along a
DNA strand.
• Many groups of proteins are working to replicate

your DNA at the same time.

What are mutations?
• Mutations are changes in the number, type, or

order of bases on a piece of DNA.
• There are three main kinds of mutations:

deletions, insertions, and substitutions.

What are mutations?
• In a deletion mutation, a base is left out.
• In an insertion mutation, an extra base is added.
• The most common mutation, substitution, happens

when one base replaces another.

What are mutations?

• Which type of mutation is shown in each row? (The
first row is the original sequence.)

What are mutations?
• Mutations can happen by random error, and also

by damage to the DNA molecule by physical or
chemical agents called mutagens.
• Cells make proteins that can fix errors in DNA, but

sometimes the mistake is not corrected.
• The mistake then becomes part of the genetic

code.

What are mutations?
• A genetic disorder results from mutations that

harm the normal function of the cell.
• Some genetic disorders are inherited, or passed on

from parent to offspring.
• Other disorders result from mutations during a

person’s lifetime. Most cancers fall in this category.

Protein Factory
What is the role of DNA and RNA in
building proteins?
• Some of the information in the DNA is copied to a
separate molecule called RNA, or ribonucleic acid.
• RNA is used to build proteins.


building proteins?
• Like DNA, RNA has a sugar-phosphate backbone
and the bases adenine (A), guanine (G), and
cytosine (C).
• Instead of thymine (T), RNA contains uracil (U).
• Three types of RNA have special roles in making

proteins.


building proteins?
• When a cell needs to make a protein, it makes an
RNA copy of a section of the DNA. This is called
transcription.
• In transcription, DNA is used as a template to

make a complementary strand of messenger RNA
(mRNA).
• The information in the mRNA is then used to build

proteins. This is called translation.


building proteins?
• In translation, the mRNA passes through a protein
assembly line within a ribosome.


building proteins?
• A ribosome is a cell organelle made of ribosomal
RNA (rRNA) and protein.
• As mRNA passes through, transfer RNA (tRNA)

delivers amino acids to the ribosomes.
• The order of the bases codes for which amino acid

is attached.
• The amino acids are joined together to form a

protein.

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Unit 2 Lesson 6 DNA Structure and Function

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Cracking the Code

• The genetic material in cells is contained in a

• Scientists describe DNA as containing a code. A

• To understand how DNA functions, you first need

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

How was DNA discovered?

• Many scientists from all over the world contributed

• Some scientists discovered the chemicals that

• Still others determined the three-dimensional

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

• Experiments and imaging techniques have helped

• The structure of DNA is a twisted ladder shape

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

What does DNA look like?

• The two sides of the ladder are made of sugars

• The rungs of the ladder are made of pairs of bases.

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

What does DNA look like?

• A base, a sugar, and a phosphate group make a

• There are four different nucleotides in DNA.

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

What does DNA look like?

• The bases in nucleotides are paired, or

• Adenine always pairs with thymine (A-T).

• Cytosine always pairs with guanine (C-G).

• The order of the nucleotides in DNA is a code that

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

What does DNA look like?

• Genes are segments of DNA that relate to a certain

• The code in the nucleotide order has information

• The types of proteins that your body makes help

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Replication and Mutation

• The cell makes copies of DNA molecules through a

• During replication, the two strands of DNA

• The bases on each side of the molecule are used

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

How are copies of DNA made?

• As bases on the original molecule are exposed,

• When replication is complete, there are two

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

How are copies of DNA made?

• Describe what is happening in the diagram.

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

When are copies of DNA made?

• Before a cell divides, it copies its DNA.

• Our cells can replicate DNA in just a few hours,

• Many groups of proteins are working to replicate

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

What are mutations?

• Mutations are changes in the number, type, or

• There are three main kinds of mutations:

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

What are mutations?

• In a deletion mutation, a base is left out.

• In an insertion mutation, an extra base is added.

• The most common mutation, substitution, happens

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

What are mutations?

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

What are mutations?

• Mutations can happen by random error, and also