MOLECULAR STRUCTURE: DNA, RNA,

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS
EVOLUTION OF THE GENETIC CODE

a) The genetic code is nearly universal, shared by the

THE MOLOCULAR BASIS OF INHERITANCE simplest bacteria to the most complex animals

 Cell b) genes can be transcribed and translated after being

- zillions and zillions of cells in the human body transplanted from one species to another
- basic unit of the living things
ex. Tobacco plant expressing a firefly gene, pig
- made of nucleus, cell membrane, mitochondria,
expressing a jellyfish gene
ribosomes, golgi apparatus
 Tissue
- made up of group of cells
FEATURES OF DNA
 Organ
- made up of group of tissues
 DNA
- deoxyribonucleic acid
- located in the nucleus
- double stranded
- stores information used to make proteins for
growth, function and reproduction
- source of genetic material
o DNA replication initiates at a single site in
prokaryotes, and at multiple site in
eukaryotes
o Prokaryotes – circular DNA
o Eukaryotes – linear DNA
o Phenotype – distinguishing
features/characteristics MITOSIS: SIGNIFICANCE
o Trait – passed from parent to offspring
through genes
o Genes – specific sections in DNA
o Genotype – offspring get half of their genes
from each parent in sexual reproduction
o T – thymine
o A – adenine
o G – guanine
o C – cytosine
o U – uracil (RNA)
 RNA
- ribonucleic acid
- single stranded - equational cell division that produces daughter cells
which are identical and clones of the original mother cell

- ensures that every cell of the body has the same genetic
CENTRAL DOGMA OF LIFE content (ex. chromosome number)
DNA -- Transcription -- RNA -- Translation -- Protein - to make this possible, cells must duplicate their genetic
---- Replication material which is primarily DNA
 template for building a new strand in
replication
b. In DNA replication, the parent molecule
unwinds, and 2 new daughter strands are
built based on base-pairing rules
o Semiconservative model of replication
(Watson and Crick’s)
- predicts that when a double helix
replicates, each daughter molecule will
have one old strand (derived or
“conserved” from the parent molecule)
and one newly made strand
- 2 parent strand rejoins
o Dispersive model of replication
- each strand is a mix of old and new
o Phenotype – outside, visible characteristics of an
organism
o Any phenotype (red/white flower) – determined
by proteins/enzymes functioning in a metabolic
pathway
o Proteins – made after “turning on” specific
sequences of DNA called gene
o Particular sequences of DNA – transcribed into
mRNA in transcription
o mRNAs – serve as the process to produce
protein in translation

II. Base pairing is maintained: A-T; G-C

DNA REPLICATION
III. New DNA molecules – produced in a
- DNA strands separate and serve as template for the
5’-3’ direction
production of a new template

A. Features of replication

I. Semi-conservative – the resulting DNA consists

of one old and new strand
a. Since the two strands of DNA are
complementary, each strand acts as the
IV. Semicontinuous – the the leading strand is
synthesized in a continuous manner (5’-3’),
while the lagging strand is produced
discontinuously in short fragments called
Okazaki strands

B. Lagging Strand Synthesis

 There is a need for a primer terminus which is

provided by an mRNA
 RNA is synthesized by a primase or RNA
polymerase
 The new 3’OH of the RNA is where the new
DNA nucleotides are added, thus the new DNA
nucleotides is built in the 5’ to 3’ direction

C. Enzymes in Replication

 Helicase
 Gyrase
 SSB (Single Strand Binding proteins)
 Primase / RNA polymerase
 DNA polymerase

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS

DNA RNA

A=T A=U

Adenine = Thynine

G=C G=C

Guanine = Cytosine

3’ --------- 5’ 5’ --------- 3’