This document provides an overview of DNA and how genetic information is stored and expressed. It defines key terms like DNA, proteins, amino acids, replication, RNA, transcription, and translation. It explains that DNA contains genetic codes called alleles that store the instructions for life by telling cells what proteins to make, such as those that determine skin color or texture. It describes how DNA is a twisted ladder composed of nucleotide base pairs that replicate to make copies of the genetic material before cells divide.

1. T H E I N S T R U C T I O N S T O L I F E
: D
DNA

2. What is DNA
 DNA stands for DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID
 Break it down- D oxy Ribo NEW clee ick! Acid
 DNA is a molecule found in every cell in all living
things
 Think of DNA as a ladder that has been twisted
 DNA holds those genetic codes that we call allels –
you know the traits we’ve been talking about

3. SO some vocab for you
 DNA
 Proteins
 Amino Acids
 Replication
 RNA
 Transcription
 Translation
 Ribosomes
 tRNA

4. Lots of weird words…
 We know DNA- It’s the instructions for life. The stuff
inside the cell that tells the cell what to make- skin,
the color of the skin, the texture etc.
 But what about the other words?

5. Proteins
 Proteins- proteins are large molecules made up of a
chain of amino acids. Proteins are unique depending
on the sequence of amino acids. Each protein will
have a job.
 DNA stores information that enables a cell to pick
the right amino acids to make a protein.

6. How does the DNA code work?
 DNA is made up of 4 base pairs called nucleotides
 Cytosine – C
 Guanine-G
 Adenine-A
 Thymine-T

7. How DNA Pairs work
 Base pairs have a “friend”. Just like red and green go
together like Christmas, C and G go together in DNA.
The same is true for A and T
 C+G= DNA match
 A+T= DNA match

8. The instructions come together
 SO DNA is a ladder (a twisted ladder) made up of
nucleotides that pair up…. Uh yeah we totally get it
Ms. Mares.
 PICTURE TIME!!!

9. Replication
 Remember Mitosis?
 Well there is a reason for it- to make copies of DNA
 Before cells can divide they have to COPY their DNA.
This process is called REPLICATION

10. Replication process
 DNA splits in half
 Nucleotides match up with DNA base
 When complete there are now two new whole
strands of DNA
 VIDEO TIME
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qSrmeiWsuc