Deoxyribonucleic Acid, DNA, is the molecule in our bodies that contain the genetic instructions used for growth, functioning, development, and reproduction in all known living organisms (DNA, Science Daily). DNA is what makes everyone different from each other, but similar to their parents. To fully understand DNA, it is important be aware of its function, structure, relationship to genes and chromosomes, and the use of base pairs to code for proteins.
DNA has many different functions in our body. First, DNA codes for proteins, and these proteins can construct other parts of the cells, which then will divide and become specialized to create the rest of our body. In the process of protein synthesis, DNA is replicated then it codes for RNA;
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In every cell in the body, there is the nucleus, which is like the brain of the cell. Inside the nucleus are long and complex strands of DNA; these strands of DNA form chromosomes, and genes are sections of DNA within a chromosome. Every cell of the body (except gametes) have 46 chromosomes matched up into 23 pairs, and there are an estimated 20,000-25,000 genes found in the human genome (Human Genome, Science Daily). People inherit 23 chromosomes from their mother and 23 chromosomes from their father, which means we get half of our genes from each parent. These chromosomes are responsible for everyone’s gene expression, which is what gives each person their unique appearance and personality, due to the instructions the DNA codes for. The connection between DNA, chromosomes, and genes is responsible for the hereditary qualities of each …show more content…
The monomers, or building blocks, of DNA are molecules called nucleotides. Each nucleotide contains a 5-carbon sugar group, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base. There are four types of nitrogen bases, and the order of these bases is what determines the DNA’s instructions (DNA: Definition, Structure, and Discovery, Rittner). The four bases are adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C); adenine only pairs with thymine and guanine only pairs with cytosine. This structure creates a double-helix, which consists of two spiral, twisted chains, and the nitrogen bases looking like stair-steps in between each chain. Each base of the staircase is held together by a hydrogen bond and is hydrophobic, meaning they fear water. Since the cytoplasm of the cell is a water-based fluid, these bases want to avoid contact by bonding together. The sugar and phosphate groups create the backbone of the ladder because they are hydrophilic, meaning they are water loving and have an affinity for water (Structure of DNA, Bailey). The strand twists to further reduce space between the nitrogen bases and the phosphate groups. This very specific structure of DNA gives it its very specific function relating to the replication and translating of it into
DNA is the genetic material found in cells of all living organisms. Human beings contain approximately one trillion cells (Aronson 9). DNA is a long strand in the shape of a double helix made up of small building blocks (Riley). The repeat segments are cut out of the DNA strand by a restrictive enzyme that acts like scissors and the resulting fragments are sorted out by electrophoresis (Saferstein 391).
DNA is made up of nucleotides, and a strand of DNA is known as a polynucleotide. A nucleotide is made up of three parts: A phosphate (phosphoric acid), a sugar (Deoxyribose in the case of DNA), and an organic nitrogenous base2 of which there are four. The four bases are as followed: Adenine (A), Cytosine
Everyone is familiar with the blue print, or book, of life. Deoxyribonucleic Acid, or DNA, for short. After all, every single cell of our trillion possesses a double-membraned blob (nucleus) just to house it. As with anyone who ever studied genetics, pilgrims to the Delphic oracle in ancient Greece always discovered something profound about them when they inquired of it-but rarely that which they assumed to have learned in the first place. The Greek king Croesus once asked the oracle if he should commence a war with a neighboring kingdom only to be told “You will destroy a great empire”. He did only his own. Likewise, DNA speaks in code with the occasional satirical message. Unlike Delphi, our oracle still speaks, and louder than ever. From
The study of nucleic acids has now become a fruitful and dynamic scientific enterprise. Nucleic acids are of unique importance in biological systems. Genes are made up of deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA, and each gene is a linear segment, or polymer, of a long DNA molecule. A DNA polymer, or DNA oligonucleotide, contains a linear arrangement of subunits called nucleotides. There are four types of nucleotides. Each nucleotide has three components; a phosphate group, a sugar and a base that contains nitrogen within its structure. The sugar moiety in DNA oligonucleotides is always dexoyribose, and there are four alternative bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). The phosphate groups and the deoxyribose sugars form the backbone of each DNA stand. The bases are joined to the deoxyribose sugar and stick out to the side. Both oligomers, DNA and RNA, consist of 5’->3’ phosphodiester-linked nucleotide units that are composed of a 2’-deoxy-D-ribose (DNA) or D-ribose (RNA) in their furanose forms and a heteroaromatic nucleobase (A, T, G, and C; A, U, G, C), and the resulting oligonucleotide chain is composed of a polar, negatively charged sugar-phosphate backbone and an array of hydrophobic nucleobases. The amphiphilic nature of these polymers dictates the assembly and maintenance of secondary and tertiary structures the oligonucleotides can form. In the DNA duplex structure, genetic information is stored as a linear nucleotide code. This code can be accessed and replicated. RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is another structurally related essential biopolymer. RNA differs from DNA in having the sugar ribose in place of the deoxyribos...
Since DNA has the instructions for making the proteins, but it has to be highly protected, it doesn’t leave the nucleus where it is mostly found (Hall, 6). DNA’s function is to be a long-term storage and transmission of the genetic information (DNA vs RNA, 2014). Copies of certain instructions needed for proteins can be made in the form of RNA. It’s not an exact copy of what is found in DNA, but RNA can travel out of the nucleus with the instructions. RNA make...
In April of 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick published a game changing paper. It would blow the mind of the scientific community and reshape the entire landscape of science. DNA, fully knows as Deoxyribonucleic Acid is the molecule that all genes are made of. Though it is a relatively new term with regard to the age of science, the story of DNA and the path to its discovery covers a much broader timeframe and had many more contributors than James Watson and Francis Crick. After reading the paper the audience should have a better understanding of what DNA is, the most important experiments that contributed to its ultimate discovery and the names and contributions of the lesser-known scientists that helped Watson and Crick turn their idea
Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid (DNA) is a chromosome found in the nucleus of a cell, which is a double-stranded helix (similar to a twisted ladder). DNA is made up of four bases called adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C), that is always based in pairs of A with T and G with C. The four bases of A, C, G, and T were discovered by Phoebus Levene in 1929, which linked it to the string of nucleotide units through phosphate-sugar-base (groups). As mention in Ananya Mandal research paper, Levene thought the chain connection with the bases is repeated in a fix order that make up the DNA molecu...
States. The FBI performs testing for free to all police agencies to help keep costs down
Chemistry dictates the structure of DNA. DNA is a polymer of monomers called nucleic acids. These are made of a nitrogenous base, a phosphate group and a sugar. It is the negative charge on the phosphate group that makes DNA an acid. There are 4 different bases: adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine. In groups of three, these four bases can code for any protein coded for in an organism’s genome. Two strands of nucleic acids stack on top of each other in a double helix. The backbone of the nucleic acids consists of the interaction between phosphate groups and the hydroxide groups of nucleic acids. These are held together by covalent bonds called phosphodiester bonds. The helix itself is held together by hydrogen bonds. Although h...
DNA replication is one of the most basic processes that occurs within a cell. Each time a cell divides, the two resulting daughter cells must contain exactly the same DNA as the parent cell. To accomplish this, each strand of existing DNA acts as a template for replication.
1. DNA is a nucleic acid that carries the genetic information in the cell and is capable of self-replication and synthesis of RNA. DNA consists of two long chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix and joined by hydrogen bonds between the complementary bases adenine and thymine or cytosine and guanine. The sequence of nucleotides determines individual hereditary characteristics.
... have been doing a phenomenal job of figuring this out. DNA is the chemical in each cell that carries our genes. DNA is the source of just about everything. It not only determines what we look like, but also many other things. Instructions are on some of our genes to let them know when they need to multiply and divide. Cancers can be caused by DNA defects.
DNA testing has been the center of attention in many criminal justice cases. The United States corrections centers have utilized the DNA testing process. Seventeen death row inmates have been exonerated by the use of these tests. Earl Washington was convicted of rape and murder in 1984. Although he confessed to the rape, he was also diagnosed as being mentally retarded. In October of 2000 Mr., Washington was given a DNA test and was excluded as the rapist and murderer. The Virginia Governor pardoned Mr. Washington after he had served 16 years in prison with 14 of them being on death row (ACLU, 2011). DNA testing has become the rule rather than the exception; but what happens with the DNA after a person has been acquitted, dismissed, or exonerated. Where does DNA go to die or does it? Is the DNA destroyed, or is it retained in miscellaneous databanks for further retrieval and use? In 2010, the United States Congress began a campaign designed to encourage the states to require DNA to be taken from suspects whether they had been charged with a crime or not. In the case of S. and Marper v the United Kingdom found that the retention of the applicants' fingerprints, cellular samples and DNA profiles was in violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Is creating a policy in the United States that demand DNA from suspects helps in finding subsequent criminals or is it just leading to a track and trace policy?
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a self-replicating molecule or material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent in chromosomes. It encodes the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and many viruses. Simply put, DNA contains the instructions needed for an organism to develop, survive and reproduce. The discovery and use of DNA has seen many changes and made great progress over many years. James Watson was a pioneer molecular biologist who is credited, along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, with discovering the double helix structure of the DNA molecule. The three won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1962 for their work (Bagley, 2013). Scientist use the term “double helix” to describe DNA’s winding, two-stranded chemical structure. This shape looks much like a twisted ladder and gives the DNA the power to pass along biological instructions with great precision.
Genes from parents are passed down to their children and this sets up their lifelong development. When a male cell meets with female reproductive cell, they start a process for a new life in a woman’s womb. The sperm has a different copy of the gene and an egg the same and so when they meet, two copies of genes are present and through them a new life begins and it will comprise both genes. From the eyes to the color of the hair, genetics plays a role in a person’s biological make up and development. Genes can predetermine many different characteristics in human development.