How Does DNA Control Cell Activity?

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DNA is made of a deoxyribose sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogen containing bases. The four nitrogen containing bases are divided into two groups, Purines and pyrimidines. The structure of DNA is called a double helix because it resembles a spiral stair case. We also learned about, complementary base pairing, replication of DNA, mutations and the structure of RNA. RNA included all three types of mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA. From RNA we also learned about transcription, protein structure, protein synthesis, enzyme production, and translation. We learned this through activities such as, our DNA study sheet, our cloning paper plasmid lab, out mutation activity, and our protein synthesis worksheet.

In, DNA study sheet we were given background information for every few questions to answer about what DNA is, it’s structure, how the rings are built and where they match too. The structure of DNA is similar to a spiral staircase and called a double helix. DNA is made of a deoxyribose sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogen containing bases. The four nitrogen containing bases are, adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. However, they’re usually represented in abbreviations. A-adenine, G-guanine, C-cytosine, and T-thymine. The four nitrogen bases are divided in purines or pyrimidines. Purines are two ringed bases, while pyrimidines are one ringed bases.Complementary base pairs are how the nucleotides pair. They connect to each other through hydrogen bonds. Cytosine connects to guanine to form three hydrogen bonds, while adenine connects to thymine to form two hydrogen bonds.

In the Lab cloning paper plasmid we used paper to simulate the cloning of a gene from one organism into bacterial plasmid ...

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...transcript is translated into an amino acid sequence. Which is the genetic code. Each combination of three mRNA nucleotides in a codon. Each codon codes for a specific amino acid. For example, the start codon is AUG while the stop codons are UAA, UAG, and UGA. During, translation tRNA anti-codons pair with their corresponding mRNA codon. The amino acids are joined to form polypeptides. The polypeptide folds and bonds with other polypeptides, and functions as a complete structure of a protein.

In conclusion, DNA contains “blueprints” which are used to create cells. It provides instructions to the cell. Depending on the cells environment the genes could be switched on or to off. Since it’s the cause of the production of enzymes. This on and off of genes can cause restrictions, mutations, and creations of certain enzymes. Thus, controlling the functions of genes.

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