Roles of DNA, RNA

and Proteins
in the Transmission of
Traits
DNA
 DNA
DNA stands for
deoxyribonucleic
acid.

DNA molecules carry the

code that controls what
your cells are made of and
what they do.
The Structure and Function of DNA
• Genetic information is carried in the linear sequence
of nucleotides in DNA
• Genetic information contains instructions to
synthesize proteins
• DNA forms double helix with two complimentary
strands holding together by hydrogen bonds between
A-T (2 bonds) and G-C (3 bonds)
• DNA duplication occurs using one strand of parental
DNA as template to form complimentary pairs with a
new DNA strand.
• DNA is in nucleus in eukaryotes
 1953 Watson and Crick
determined the structure of
DNA

DNA and its Building

Nucleotides: Guanine (G),
Adenine (A), Cytosine
(C), Thymine (T).
Polarized strand, 5’->3’
Base inside, sugar outside
DNA and its
Building
Antiparallel
strands
 DNA Pairs
A always pairs
with T,
and G with C,
A-T two
hydrogen
bonds, G-C
three hydrogen
bonds
 HOW DNA COPIES ITSELF
DNA can make copies of itself because it is double stranded.

The DNA molecule “unzips” as the rungs of the ladder separate

and the molecule splits into two single strands.
 HOW DNA COPIES ITSELF
New bases from the cell move in and, following the pairing rules,
match themselves to the bases on the single strands.

new DNA molecules

Each single strand builds up into a new double strand.
What do you notice about the new DNA molecules?
 HOW DNA COPIES ITSELF
The new DNA molecules are identical to each other and the
original DNA molecule.

replication

original DNA molecule new DNA molecules

What is the copying of DNA also called?
RNA
 RNA
Five differences between RNA and DNA
1. Sugar in RNA is ribose instead of deoxyribose
2. RNA is single stranded
3. RNA contains Uracil instead of Thymine
4. RNA is disposable
5. RNA can be outside the nucleus, DNA can’t
If you are going from DNA to RNA – what nitrogenous base would pair with
Adenine?
DNA: C A G T T A
RNA: _ _ _ _ _ _
 ANSWER:

DNA: C A G T T A
RNA: G U C A A U
 TYPES OF RNA
Key players in Protein Synthesis -

• Messenger RNA (mRNA): carry

instruction copies
• Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): makes up
ribosome along with proteins
• Transfer RNA (tRNA): brings amino
acids to the ribosome
 CENTRAL DOGMA
The direction in which genetic information flows is from the DNA to
RNA to proteins. This idea was first proposed by Francis Crick in
1958 which he called the Central Dogma of Molecular Genetics,
which can be represented in a diagram as follows:
BIG PICTURE OF PROTEIN
SYNTHESIS
 TRANSCRIPTION

In double-stranded DNA, only one strand codes for the RNA that is
translated into protein. This DNA strand is referred to as the antisense
strand. The strand that does not code for RNA is called the sense strand.
Antisense DNA is also known as noncoding DNA.
TRANSLATION
Translation of the
Genetic Code -
Protein Synthesis
 This is a molecule of messenger RNA.
mRNA is transcribed in the nucleus.

codon
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU

mRNA molecule
 A ribosome attaches to the mRNA
molecule.

ribosome

AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
 Amino acid

tRNA molecule

A transfer RNA molecule arrives.

It brings a specific amino acid to the first
three bases (codon) on the mRNA.
anticodon The three unpaired bases (anticodon)
on the tRNA link up with the codon.
UAC
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
 Another tRNA molecule comes into
place, bringing a second amino acid.

Its anticodon links up with the second

codon on the mRNA.
CC
UAC G
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
 Peptide bond

A peptide bond forms between the

two amino acids.

U A CC C G
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
 The first tRNA molecule releases its amino
acid and moves off into the cytoplasm.

A C
U
CCG
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
 The ribosome moves along the mRNA to
the next codon.

CCG
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
 Another tRNA molecule brings
the next amino acid into place.

AA
CCG U
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
 A peptide bond joins the second
and third amino acids to form a
polypeptide chain.

CCGCCG
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
The process continues.

The polypeptide chain gets longer.

This continues until a termination
(stop) codon is reached.

The polypeptide is then complete. AC

GUC G
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
CODON TABLE
What amino acids would be coded by the following DNA sequence?
CGG ACC GCT ATC
What amino acids would be coded by the following DNA sequence?
CGG ACC GCT ATC
GCC UGG CGA UAG
Ala-Trp-Arg-stop
THE “CENTRAL DOGMA”
DNA
THE “CENTRAL DOGMA”
DNA

RNA
 THE “CENTRAL DOGMA”
DNA

RNA

proteins
 THE “CENTRAL DOGMA”
DNA

RNA

proteins

you