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Starter Task Discuss your

answers with
Using your prior learning, decide if the following statements about your partner.
DNA are True or False.
Challenge!
1. DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid
If the statement
2. DNA is found in the mitochondria of all living cells is False, correct
3. DNA exists as a double-stranded helix the underlined
word to make it
4. DNA carries the instructions to make proteins correct.

Learning Objective: Success Criteria:

Understand the structure and
function of DNA
Identify the different parts of a DNA nucleotide
Explain how the strands of DNA are held together
Calculate the number of each type of base in a DNA molecule
Compare the structure of DNA and RNA
 DNA Structure

Learning Objective: To understand the structure and function of DNA

Key Vocabulary Learner Profile

Nucleotide Complementary Helix Thinker Knowledgeable Communicator

Linking Success Criteria: Looking

Identify the different parts of a DNA nucleotide
Discovery of DNA DNA replication

Explain how strands of DNA are held together

Calculate the number of each type of base in a DNA

molecule

Compare the structure of DNA and RNA

 Task
Video Clip Use your
DNA is a _____ stranded molecule which is twisted to form a knowledge from
the video to
double _____ structure. Each strand is made up of many DNA _____ complete the
which are joined together by covalent bonds. paragraph.

Each nucleotide is made up of three parts: _____ sugar, phosphate, Challenge!

and one of four nitrogenous _____. The backbone of the DNA
molecule is formed as the _____ of one nucleotide is covalently Can you name
any other types
bonded to the deoxyribose _____ of the next nucleotide, and is of biological
therefore known as the sugar-phosphate backbone. molecule?

helix bases sugar phosphate double nucleotides deoxyribose

Learning Objective:
Understand the structure and
function of DNA
Success Criteria:
Identify the different parts of a DNA nucleotide
Explain how the strands of DNA are held together
Calculate the number of each type of base in a DNA molecule
Compare the structure of DNA and RNA
 Task
Video Clip Use your
The two DNA strands in a DNA molecule are held together by _____ knowledge from
the video to
bonds, which occur between complementary base _____. Guanine complete the
always pairs with _____, whilst _____ always pairs with thymine. paragraph.

The strands run _____ to one another, as one strand runs in the 3’ Challenge!
to 5’ direction, whilst the other runs in the 5’ to 3’ direction.
Can you name
any other types
of biological
molecule?
cytosine antiparallel hydrogen adenine

Learning Objective: Success Criteria:

Understand the structure and
function of DNA
Identify the different parts of a DNA nucleotide
Explain how the strands of DNA are held together
Calculate the number of each type of base in a DNA molecule
Compare the structure of DNA and RNA
DNA Structure
Draw and name the structure shown below
Label parts 1, 2 and 3
Learning Objective:
Understand the structure and
function of DNA
1 3
Success Criteria:
Identify the different parts of a DNA nucleotide
Explain how the strands of DNA are held together
Calculate the number of each type of base in a DNA molecule
Compare the structure of DNA and RNA
DNA Structure
Glue the diagram into your notes.

• Add the letters for the

complementary bases
• Label the different parts
• Draw dashed lines to indicate
where hydrogen bonds are formed
• Label the 3’ end and 5’ end

Learning Objective: Success Criteria:

Understand the structure and
function of DNA
Identify the different parts of a DNA nucleotide
Explain how the strands of DNA are held together
Calculate the number of each type of base in a DNA molecule
Compare the structure of DNA and RNA
Base Calculations
1. A DNA molecule contains 4000 bases. Of these, 500 are adenine. Calculate the number of thymine bases.

2. In a section of DNA containing 3200 bases, 750 are guanine. Calculate the number of adenine bases.

3. A DNA molecule containing 6500 bases is 20% cytosine. Calculate the percentage of each type of base in
this molecule.

4. A section of DNA contains 450 adenine bases and 375 guanine bases. Calculate the total number of bases
in this section of DNA.

5. In a DNA molecule which consists of 1800 bases, 15% are guanine. Calculate the number of thymine bases.

Learning Objective: Success Criteria:

Understand the structure and
function of DNA
Identify the different parts of a DNA nucleotide
Explain how the strands of DNA are held together
Calculate the number of each type of base in a DNA molecule
Compare the structure of DNA and RNA
 Task
DNA vs RNA
Use your
knowledge from
the article to
complete the
table.
DNA RNA
Challenge!
Double or single-
stranded? Can you name
any other types
Type of sugar?
of biological
molecule?
Nitrogenous bases?

Learning Objective: Success Criteria:

Understand the structure and
function of DNA
Identify the different parts of a DNA nucleotide
Explain how the strands of DNA are held together
Calculate the number of each type of base in a DNA molecule
Compare the structure of DNA and RNA
Learning Reflections
• Update the ‘L’ column of your unit planner to give
examples of what you have learned in the unit so far

• Explain how you have developed your ATLs in this lesson in

the ‘Unit Reflections’

• Consider how your learning relates to the key/related

concepts in the ‘Unit Reflections’

Learning Objective: Success Criteria:

Understand the structure and
function of DNA
Identify the different parts of a DNA nucleotide
Explain how the strands of DNA are held together
Calculate the number of each type of base in a DNA molecule
Compare the structure of DNA and RNA