Notes for Sunday 1 st

November
Fermenters –use this slide or page 35 to complete the
drawing
DNA and the production of
proteins
 Genes are made from DNA
• Genes are sections of DNA
• We can identify genes on
chromosomes as stained bands.

• Genes are the sections of DNA

that code for proteins.
• Genes control the characteristics
of an organism e.g.
– Hair colour
– Eye colour
– Tongue-roll
 DNA Structure
•DeoxyriboNucleic Acid
•One molecule of DNA, consists of 2 strands of
repeating units called bases.
•The 2 strands are
twisted into a
double helix.
 Forms a double helix - like a twisted
ladder…

The sides of the

ladder are the
backbones of the
strands.
The rungs of the
ladder are made of
complementary pairs
of bases.
 Making proteins
• DNA carries the genetic code for making
proteins.
• Proteins are made from smaller units called
amino acids.

• There are only 20 different types of amino

acids.
 Making proteins
• There are many different proteins in a living
organism, each with a different function.
• The function of a protein is controlled by its
structure.
 Making proteins

• The structure of a protein is controlled by the

sequence of its amino acids.
• The sequence of DNA bases in a gene codes
for the sequence of amino acids in a protein.
• Protein have many different functions e.g.
enzymes and hormones
 Genetic code

• Every 3 bases on a DNA strand codes for one

amino acid.
• Can you guess how long the strand of DNA
would be to code for a protein like insulin that
is made from 51 amino acids?

51 x 3 = 153
 Example: Eye Colour
• The coloured part of your eye is called the iris.
• The cells of the iris make a pigment that control colour.
• For blue eyes, the
genes in the
• cells of the iris
must make a
melanin (a protein)
 Summary

• Cells ……. contain nuclei

• Nuclei ……. contain chromosomes
• Chromosomes …….. contain genes
• Genes ……. contain DNA
• DNA …… contains the genetic code
• Genetic code …… codes for a protein
• Proteins ……… control function of cells
 Protein Synthesis
• Cells make proteins at ribosomes.
• The specific sequence of amino acids in the protein
controls the proteins structure and function.
• The specific sequence of DNA bases in a gene
codes for the specific sequence of amino acids in
the protein to be assembled at the ribosomes.
How does the code translate into protein?

• A molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA),

carries a copy of the code from the DNA in the
nucleus.
• To a ribosome in the cytoplasm of the cell
where amino acids are assembled in a specific
sequence to make a specific protein.
mRNA makes a copy of code from
DNA on gene
mRNA takes a copy of this code to the ribosome to
assemble protein