What is DNA?

Dr. Omer Farooq Saeed

 What is DNA?
Remember
• DNA is a nucleic acid biomolecules

• DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid

• DNA – is the genetic material inside the
nucleus of
eukaryotic cells.

IT ACTUALLY WINDS UP
REALLY TIGHTLY AND FITS
INTO CHROMOSOMES!!!
It is made of
DNA!
 Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Segment of DNA

NUCLEUS CHROMOSOMES GENES SEGMENTS

OF DNA
Which cell organelle is DNA found
in (for eukaryotes)?
THE NUCLEUS!

Do prokaryotes even have DNA??? OF COURSE! But,

it is not protected
by a nucleus!
Discovering the Structure of DNA
Structure was discovered in 1953 by James
Watson and Francis Crick
They were only able to
complete the model
after x rays taken of
DNA through a
microscope by a
woman named
Rosalind Franklin
revealed the key to
determining the true
shape….she was never
officially credited with
the discovery 

Watch this!:
DNA ANIMATION!
What is the purpose, or function, of
DNA?
• Stores the genetic information that instructs
the cell on which proteins to make.
• So, DNA makes PROTEINS
(both are biomolecules!)
• Responsible for determining all organism’s
traits such as eye color, body structure, and
enzyme production.
Proteins are
responsible for
most of these
traits!
 The Components of DNA
• DNA is a long molecule made up
of repeating individual units of
monomers called nucleotides.
– Nucleotides are made up of three
parts that are held together by
covalent bonds:
1. Sugar Phosphate
2. Phosphate Group
3. Nitrogenous Base
DeoxyriboseS Nitrogenous
ugar Base
In the diagram, what substance
is represented by the letter x?

A. Ribose sugar
B. Deoxyribose sugar
C. Phosphate
D. Adenine
 Nitrogenous Bases
• DNA contains four nitrogenous bases:
1. Adenine (A)
2. Guanine (G)
3. Cytosine (C)
4. Thymine (T)
 In DNA, Which Bases Pair?
• Adenine (A) always pairs
with Thymine (T)
• Guanine (G) always pairs
with Cytosine (C) Covalent
bonds

Watch this!:
COMPOSITION OF DNA
In your notes, write in the base pairs for the following:
These bases are held together by
hydrogen bonds
 What are Hydrogen Bonds?
Hydrogen bonds are weak and
they combine the two DNA strands.

It is important
that these
middle bonds
are weak! Why
do you think???
Structure of DNA
• Phosphate Group &
Deoxyribose Sugar
– Form the backbone or
sides of the ladder.
• Nitrogenous Bases
– Form the “steps” of the
ladder or middle of the
molecule.
X makes up the backbone along
with which other molecule?

A. Ribose sugar
B. Deoxyribose sugar
C. Base-pairs
D. Adenine
• DNA is a
DOUBLE
HELIX or a
twisted
ladder.
Pictures Of The Double Helix
 THE INSTRUCTIONS
ARE IN THE SEQUENCE
OF NUCLEOTIDES.
The components that make
up the genetic code are
common to all organisms!
 A T C G
If we all have the
same components
G C of DNA, why do A T
we look different
from other people
A T and from other G C
organisms like
horses or plants?
C G T A

DNA of a horse DNA of a human

What is the difference?
The difference is in the order of the bases.

The more alike two organisms are, the more alike their order of
bases will be.

Information for everything about an organism is carried in the order

of bases in their DNA, like a language.
DNA base pairs  genes  proteins  traits

This sequence of base pairs

is what determines our traits