The DNA Revolution

1940s-1960s
Griffith & Avery—DNA transformed
pneumococcus bacteria.
Encouraged the study of prokaryotic
chromosomes.
Hershey and Chase—Bacteriophage
experiment. DNA from viruses is injected to
host bacteria cells.
The Search for the Structure of
the DNA Molecule
1951—Rosalind Franklin—X-ray
crystallography
Chargaff—Chargaff’s rules. Ratio of
nitrogenous bases in DNA. Complimentary
bases.
Watson & Crick--1953
Watson & Crick Model of DNA
Nucleotides Purines—Adenine &
Sugar—Deoxyribose Guanine
Phosphate Group Pyrimidines—Cytosine
Nitrogenous Bases & Thymine
5’ End—Phosphate side
Adenine & Thymine are
complementary. 3’ End—Other side
Cytosine and Guanine
are complimentary.
Watson & Crick Model
DNA is composed of 2 The complimentary
chains of nucleotides that nitrogenous bases form
form a double helix shape. hydrogen bonds
The two strands are between the strands.
antiparallel. A is complimentary to T
The backbone of the DNA
and G is complimentary
molecule is composed of to C.
alternating phosphate
groups and sugars.
DNA Structure
DNA consists of two molecules that are
arranged into a ladder-like structure called a
Double Helix.

A molecule of DNA is made up of millions of

tiny subunits called Nucleotides.

Each nucleotide consists of:

1. Phosphate group
2. Pentose sugar
3. Nitrogenous base
Nucleotides

Phosphate

Nitrogenous
Base

Pentose
SugarA
Nucleotides
The phosphate and sugar form the
backbone of the DNA molecule, whereas the
bases form the “rungs”.

There are four types of nitrogenous bases.

Nucleotides
A T

Adenine Thymine

C G

Cytosine Guanine
Nucleotides
Each base will only bond with one other
specific base.

Adenine (A)
Form a base pair.
Thymine (T)

Cytosine (C)
Form a base pair.
Guanine (G)
DNA Structure
Because of this complementary base pairing,
the order of the bases in one strand
determines the order of the bases in the
other strand.
A T

C G

T A

C G

A T

G C

T A
DNA Structure
To crack the genetic code found in DNA we
need to look at the sequence of bases.

The bases are arranged in triplets called

codons.

AGG-CTC-AAG-TCC-TAG
TCC-GAG-TTC-AGG-ATC
DNA Structure
A gene is a section of DNA that codes for a
protein.

Each unique gene has a unique sequence of

bases.

This unique sequence of bases will code for the

production of a unique protein.

It is these proteins and combination of proteins

that give us a unique phenotype.
 DNA
Gene
Protein

Task
DNA
Functions
1. Storage of genetic information
2. Self-duplication & inheritance.
3. Expression of the genetic message.
DNA’s major function is to code for
proteins.
Information is encoded in the order of the
nitrogenous bases.
After hearing to the long stuff …..

ONE SIMPLE QUESTION?

DO GENE CONTAIN CHROMOSOME OR

CHROMOSOME CONTAIN GENE?????