Nucleic Acids
• The macromolecule that holds our genetic
material (DNA).
• Contains genes =
sections of DNA that
serve as the
blueprint/instructions
for making proteins
– Located at certain
points on a
chromosome
• Proteins carry out all cellular activity.
• Two types of nucleic acids:
– DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid
– RNA: ribonucleic acid
Nucleotides
• Make up nucleic acids (the monomer)
• Have three parts:
– Sugar
• Deoxyribose (DNA)
• Ribose (RNA)
– Phosphate
– Nitrogen base:
• Adenine
• Guanine
• Cytosine
• Thymine (DNA only)
• Uracil (RNA only)
DNA Structure
• Double helix: like a
twisted ladder
– Sugar and phosphate
form the “sugar
phosphate backbone”
– Nitrogen bases bond in
the middle with weak
hydrogen bonds
– All other bonds are
strong covalent bonds
DNA Structure
• Nitrogen bases bond only
to their complementary
base pair with hydrogen
bonds
– A’s bond with T’s
– C’s bond with G’s
We call these the “complementary
base pairing rules”
RNA Structure
• Single strand of
nucleotides with
exposed bases
• RNA bases bind with
DNA bases
– A’s bind with U’s
– C’s bind with G’s
DNA vs.
RNA
DNA RNA
Types of
nitrogen A, T, C, G A, U, C, G
bases
Type of deoxyribose ribose
sugar used
Shape double helix single strand
Basics of Heredity
• Chromosomes = tightly coiled strands of DNA
– Different organisms have different numbers of
chromosomes
• Ex. Humans have 23 pairs (46 total – 23 from mom and 23 from
dad)
• Ex. Dogs have 37 pairs (74 total – 37 from mom and 37 from
dad)
• Gene = a section of DNA that has instructions to
code for a protein
– One chromosome can contain thousands of genes linked
together!
So, genes are pieces/sections of DNA.
Chromosomes are long strands of DNA all
bunched up.
DNA Replication
Background
• When a cell is ready to divide, it must first copy its
DNA. The process of making an identical copy of
DNA is called DNA Replication.
– DNA DNA
• This happens in the nucleus during the S Phase
(Synthesis) of Interphase.
• DNA Replication ensures that each new cell made
will have exactly the same DNA as the original cell.
DNA Replication
1. Unzip the DNA.
2. Enzymes help find complementary bases and bind
them according to base-pairing rules (A-T and C-G)
3. Two identical DNA molecules are formed, each with
an “old” strand and a “new” strand.
DNA Replication
• It is considered to be Semi-Conservative
Replication (because part of the molecule is
conserved/saved)
• Each parent strand is now a
template (pattern) that
determines the order of the
new bases
• Forms a “complementary”
strand to original strand
• The newly synthesized double
helix is a combination of one
“old” (or original) and one
“new” DNA strand.
Consider…
• What kinds of mistakes could occur during this
process?
• What would be the implications of these kinds
of mistakes happening?
– What would be the difference in a mistake in the
DNA of a body cell, such as a brain cell, vs. a
mistake in the DNA of a germ cell that would
eventually make a sperm cell?
– What would be the difference in a mistake in a
gene vs. in a chromosome?