notes

1. Assign Yourself: DNA vs. RNA practice
• Do Now:
• In 2 to 3 sentences,
describe how you can
make glow in the dark
cats. (yes, that is a
real cat that glows in
the dark!)

2. DNA and RNA

3. Glow in the Dark Cats
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCPtDVn
aQ1w

4. DNA  RNA  Protein
Transcription Translation
DNA RNA Protein

5. Why is DNA called the “universal code”?
• DNA is found in ALL living organisms.
What does the D
in DNA stand for?
• D = deoxyribose (ribose is
a sugar, and “deoxy”
means it’s missing one of
its oxygen atoms)

6. Processing Piece:
• Write “universal code” and draw a picture to help
yourself remember the definition.
(Example: A bacteria, person, and flower all with the
same 4 types of DNA bases.)
• Do cats and jellyfish both use the same 4 letters in their
DNA? (yes or no)
• If you looked at the DNA inside a bacteria cell, would
you find the same 4 bases (A, T, G, and C)?

7. What does DNA look like?
• It’s double-stranded. (There are 2 strands.)
• It’s twisted, which gives it a double helix shape.
Where is DNA found?
• DNA is ONLY in the nucleus. It NEVER leaves!

8. Processing Piece:
• Write “double helix” and draw a picture showing
what a double helix DNA molecule looks like.
• In your drawing, show where in the cell it is found.

9. What nitrogenous bases (letters) does
DNA use?
• Adenine (A) Cytosine (C)
• Guanine (G) Thymine (T)
• ALL living things use these same four bases!

10. What is RNA?
• “Ribonucleic acid,” a type of nucleic
acid
• R = “ribose” (a type of sugar)
• Single stranded
• Can be found inside OR outside the
nucleus
• Made of monomers (building blocks)
called nucleotides. Each nucleotide
has a sugar, phosphate, and
nitrogenous base.

11. What nitrogenous bases are found in RNA?
• Adenine
• Guanine
• Cytosine
• Uracil (U) (There’s no thymine.)

12. Processing Piece:
• Draw a picture of RNA. Write “single stranded” next
to it. Show where in the cell in can be found.
• How many differences can you find between DNA
and RNA? (Name at least 3.)

13. What are the 3 types of RNA?
1. mRNA: messenger RNA
2. tRNA: transfer RNA
3. rRNA: ribosomal RNA

14. IA Results!
• Average score: 78.6%
• % Passing: 82% of students passed, gotta get it
higher! Almost there!
• #1 in the District
• Highest class period: 6th Period (84% average)
• Individual scores are on PowerSchool

15. Instructions for Card Sort
• Sort cards into 3 piles: DNA, RNA, both
• Raise your hand when you’re done.
• After I check it, copy down onto your paper.

16. Exit Ticket:
1. Which molecule has a double helix shape?
2. True or false: The bases in DNA, and the pairs that
they form, are the same for all known organisms.
3. Is this DNA or RNA? AACCGGTT