What is DNA?

DNA is:
 A ‘fingerprint’ that is inside your body.
 Learning about DNA is like learning to read
a new language.
 All your genes are made up of long
strands of DNA.
What DNA looks like:
 DNA is made up of ‘subunits’ of a sugar, a
base, and a phosphate.
 A base is defined as a substance that combines
with an acid to form salt.
 A phosphate is defined as molecules that
consist of phosphorous and oxygen.
 A sugar is defined as a simple carbohydrate.
What DNA looks like: The
Bases
• DNA is made up of FOUR bases:
- Adenine
- Guanine
- Thymine
- Cytosine
What DNA looks like: The
Bases
What DNA looks like: The
Phosphate
What DNA looks like: The
Sugar

The sugar is called DEOXYRIBOSE!

What DNA looks like:
Put together the Bases, Phosphate,
and Sugar
 The ‘subunit’ of a base, phosphate group
and sugar is called a nucleotide.
What DNA looks like:
Put together the Bases, Phosphate,
and Sugar

This is a single strand of DNA

 What DNA looks like: The base
pairing
 Adenine and Thymine pair up.
 Guanine and Cytosine pair up.

Because of this special bonding, DNA

forms a DOUBLE STRAND.
What DNA looks like:
A Double Strand
What DNA looks like:
A double strand
What DNA looks like:
A double strand
What DNA looks like:
A double strand
How the code works
 For example, a stretch of DNA could be
AATGACCAT, which would read differently
than GGGCCATAG.
 The four bases have endless combinations
(just like the letters of an alphabet) in to
make different ‘words.’
How the code works
 DNA remains in the nucleus. But in order
for its instructions to be translated into
proteins, it sends its ‘message’ outside
the nucleus using RNA.
RNA
 RNA has only one strand
 Has the base Uracil instead of Thymine
 Has the sugar ribose instead of
deoxyribose
Translating the message
 The message from mRNA (messenger) is
translated by the Universal code. Each 3
bases stands for an Amino Acid:
IE – UUU, UUC codes for Phenylalanine
Translating the message
 Making Proteins

Those amino acids form a chain, which then makes a Protein!

Proteins
 These proteins then go on and perform
various functions throughout the body.

 For example, your immune system is

made up of proteins, all your enzymes are
proteins, protein also serves to build
strong structures, like bones, muscles,
ligaments, etc.