TASK 1 (P1) 1.

Compare and contrast the structure of the DNA with the structure of the RNA
DNA RNA

DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid and contains the 5 carbon sugar deoxyribose.

RNA is ribonucleic acid and contains the 5 carbon sugar ribose.

DNA is a double stranded molecule. DNA contains 4 bases Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G) and Thymine (T).

RNA is single stranded. In RNA Thymine is replaced by Uracil(U) but also contains A, C and G.

Both DNA and RNA are composed of sub units called nucleotides. A nucleotide has 3 sub units: A 5 carbon sugar, An inorganic phosphate and one of four bases. The nucleotides in both DNA and RNA are linked by chemical bonds between the sugar of one nucleotide and the Phosphate of the next to form a 'sugar- phosphate backbone'.

TASK 2 (M1) How a length of DNA contains coded information DNA contains the four bases, Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine. The four bases will base complimentary pair in one of four ways A-T, T-A, G-C, C-G. Chromosomes are made up of DNA and chromosomes contain genes- hereditary units of coded information passed from parent to offspring. Each gene has its own specific sequence of bases- often containing 100/1000's of nucleotides and each gene codes for one protein/ polypeptide chain. Proteins are created during protein synthesis which occurs in the ribosomes ( out of the nucleus) for the DNA code to travel out of the nucleus mRNA is necessary, which contains the nucleotide Uracil rather than Thymine, the mRNA complimentary base Pairs with the DNA and then leaves the nucleus, into the cytoplasm to the ribosomes. Each molecule of mRNA contains a codon which codes for one amino acid. The tRNA brings the amino acid to the correct mRNA molecule as it has a anti-codon which complimentary base pairs with the codon on the mRNA. The amino acids join together with poly-peptide bonds forming a polypeptide chain- protein.

Proteins are coded for by sequences of three bases on the nucleic acid strands. A series of three bases on DNA is called a Triplet. On mRNA a sequence of three bases is called a codon and on tRNA it is called an anticodon. mRNA is copied from one strand of DNA by a process called Transcription. DNA, being double stranded is too large to pass out of the nuclear pores and so is confined to the nucleus. mRNA being single stranded can pass out of the nucleus to carry the genetic code to the ribosomes on the rough endoplasmic reticulum for translation into sequences of amino acids. (Called Translation) DNA can undergo self-replication, RNA can't. The base pairing rule in DNA is A with T and C with G. In RNA the base pairing rule is A with U and C with G.