The structure of DNA

• What is DNA?

  Deoxyribonucleic acid
• What is the primary function of DNA?

  It carries the genetic code for organisms
• What is a gene?

  A section of DNA coding for a protein
• What does heredity refer to?

  Passing genetic information to offspring
• Where are chromosomes found?

  In the nucleus of cells
• What are chromosomes made of?

  Long threads of DNA and genes
• Who discovered the structure of DNA?

  James Watson and Francis Crick
• What shape does DNA have?

  A double helix structure
• What forms the backbone of each DNA strand?

  Alternating sugar and phosphate molecules
• What are the four bases in DNA?

  Thymine, adenine, guanine, cytosine
• What is complementary base pairing?

  Specific pairing of bases in DNA strands
• Which bases pair together in DNA?

  Thymine with adenine, guanine with cytosine
• How does the order of bases affect proteins?

  It determines the order of amino acids
• What are alleles?

  Different forms of a gene
• Give an example of alleles for eye color.

  Blue and brown eye color alleles
• What is the triplet code?

  A code of three bases for amino acids
• What does each specific amino acid have?

  A unique triplet code of bases
• What is the relationship between genes and proteins?

  • Genes code for specific proteins
  • The order of bases in genes determines amino acid sequence
  • Proteins are essential for organism's traits and functions
• What are the key components of DNA structure?

  • Double helix shape
  • Backbone of sugar and phosphate
  • Four bases: A, T, G, C
  • Complementary base pairing
• What is the role of the nucleus in a cell?

  It controls what happens inside the cell
• What type of data did Watson and Crick use to build their DNA model?

  1. ray diffraction data from other scientists
• Why is the triplet code important?

  It determines the sequence of amino acids