2. Structure of DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid)
• Discovered by Watson &
Crick in 1953
• DNA is a nucleic acid
• DNA is made up of small
subunits called nucleotides
3. The nucleotides are made up of:
• Deoxyribose (sugar)
• Phosphate group
• Nitrogen bases - 4 types
1. Adenine - A
2. Guanine - G
3. Cytosine - C
4. Thymine -T
4. DNA is actually 2 long
chains of nucleotides
that are joined together
in the form of a ladder.
The ladder is twisted in
the form of a double
helix or spiral.
6. The nitrogen bases always pair up in a specific pattern.
• Adenine (A) pairs up with Thymine (T)
• Guanine (G) pairs up with Cytosine (C)
Example
A G C T A C G C A one side
T C G A T G C G T other side
7. All organisms have the same type of nucleotides.
The nucleotide arrangement provides for all the
different types..
Ex- A mouse and a rosebush have the same
nucleotides . However, they are different
because their nucleotides are in different
orders.
* This sequence of nucleotides forms the genetic
information(code) of an organism.
8. Replication of DNA
This DNA copy is made through a process known as
replication.
• During meiosis and mitosis a copy of DNA must
be
made so that when the new cells are formed, they
each get an exact copy of the genetic information.
9. Steps of Replication
During replication, each strand serves as a pattern to
make new DNA molecule.
• First step: DNA unzips into 2 strands.
(H bonds are broken)
• Second step: Free nucleotides join onto “unzipped”
strands to form 2 new strands of DNA.
• 2 complete strands will result, these will be
exactly alike.