HEREDITY:
INHERITANCE AND
VARIATION
GROUP 2 - RUTHERFORD
OBJECTIVES
Know the difference between DNA and RNA
Identify the role of DNA and RNA in protein synthesis
Describe DNA replication
WHAT IS DNA?
DNA is a double stranded nucleic acid
consisting of deoxyribose sugar. It looks
like a twisted ladder (double helix) and is
found inside the nucleus of our cells.
DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid.
WHAT IS RNA?
RNA is a single stranded molecule consisting
of ribose sugar. A nucleic acid present in all
living cells that has structural similarities
to DNA. Examples of RNA includes: mRNA,
rRNA, and tRNA
RNA stands for ribonucleic acid.
DNA
DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID
vs.
RNA
RIBONUCLEIC ACID
FUNCTION FUNCTION
Stores genetic Transmits and copies
information genetic information
STRUCTURE base pairs STRUCTURE
Double-stranded helix Single-stranded helix
COMPOSITION COMPOSITION
nucleobases
Deoxyribose sugar Ribose sugar
phosphate backbone phosphate backbone
BASES sugar
BASES
Adenine, guanine, phosphates Adenine, guanine,
cytosine, thymine cytosine, uracil
LOCATION LOCATION
Cell nucleus and Cytoplasm
mitochondria
The process by which DNA makes a copy of itself during
cell division
DNA is made up of sugars, phosphate groups, and
nitrogenous bases and its shape is a double helix. The
complementary structure the two strands of DNA allow
each strand to serve as a template during replication.
The specificity of base pairing in DNA, adenine with
thymine, and cytosine with guanine, allows DNA to
replicate itself with accuracy.
Protein Synthesis
Pathway to
DNA mRNA tRNA
(ribosomes) Protein making a
Protein
Messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules carry the coding sequences
(information) from the DNA in the nucleus to the protein
manufacturing area, the cytoplasm. mRNA becomes template
of information to make proteins.
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) molecules form the core of a cell's
ribosomes (the structures in which protein synthesis takes
place). Assembles amino acids in the correct order.
Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules supplies amino acids to the
ribosomes to be assembled as protein.
Proteins are one of the vital biomolecules of life. These compounds
perform a variety of essential processes to sustain an organism's
survival, which include clotting of blood, transporting oxygen,
contracting muscles and catalyzing chemical reactions. The building
blocks of proteins are called amino acids.
Amino acids in a protein chain are linked by a peptide bond. Usually,
proteins have an N-terminal end carrying a free amino group and C-
terminus with -COOH.
DNA
REPLICATION
Step 1
An enzyme called helicase breaks
the bond between nitrogenous
bases. The two strands of DNA
spit.
Step 2
The bases attached to each
strand then pair up with the
free nucleotides found in the
cytoplasm.
Step 3
The complementary nucleotides are added
to each strand by DNA polymerase to
form new strands. Two new DNA molecules,
each with a parent strand and each with
a new strand are formed. The DNA
replication is known as semi-conservative
replication, because one of the old strands
is conserved in each new molecule.
KEY CONCEPTS:
A DNA is a double helix molecule composed of
complementary strands of deoxyribonucleotides units. The
complementary base pairs of the DNA are held by hydrogen
bonds.
RNA is single stranded
Examples of RNA types include: mRNA, rRNA and tRNA.
In DNA, adenine always bonds with thymine, and cytosine
bonds with guanine. In RNA, adenine bonds with uracil, and
cytosine bonds with guanine.
OBJECTIVE
Describe Transcription and translation.
What do you think is the role of RNA in
making proteins in the cell?
Protein production is similar to car production. It is
the role of the DNA to provide workers with the
instructions for making the proteins, and the
workers build the proteins. Other workers known as
amino acids, bring parts to the factory. RNA
molecules or the workers for protein synthesis get
the instructions from the DNA on how the protein
should be assembled.
What is TRANSCRIPTION?
It's the process of copying a segment of DNA
into RNA for the purpose of gene expression.
Transcription Process
Step 1
Ribonucleic Acid polymerase enzyme binds
and opens the DNA molecule that will be
transcribed.
Step 2
As the DNA molecule opens, the RNA
polymerase slides along the DNA strand
and links free RNA nucleotides that
pair with the nitrogenous bases of the
complementary DNA strand. Hence, if
the sequence of bases on the DNA
strand were CCG TTA CAT, the sequence
of bases on the RNA strand would be
GGC AAU GUA.
Step 3
When the process of base-pairing is
completed, the RNA molecule breaks away
as the DNA strands rejoin. The RNA leaves
the nucleus and goes to the cytoplasm.
This figure shows the
transcription process.
The sequence of nucleotides in DNA directs the order
of nucleotides in messenger RNA in a process called
transcription.
There are three major types of RNA that help build
proteins: mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA.
The mRNA carries the information in DNA to the
ribosomes found in the cytoplasm.
What is TRANSLATION?
It's the process of converting the information
in messenger RNA (mRNA) into a protein.
Codon
- a sequence of three nucleotides which together
form a unit of genetic code in a DNA or RNA
molecule.
In translation, each set of three nucleotides in an mRNA
molecule codes for one amino acid in a protein. Each codon
specifies a particular amino acid.
Step 1
As translation begins, mRNA binds to a ribosome. Then,
tRNA molecules, each carrying a specific amino acid,
approach the ribosome. The tRNA anticodon pairs with
the first mRNA (start) codon argenine-uracil-guanine
(AUG), to form the initiation complex. The two molecules
temporarily join together.
Step 2
Usually, the first codon on mRNA is AUG, which codes for
the amino acid methionine. AUG signals the start of
protein synthesis. Then, the ribosome slides along the
mRNA to the next codon.
Step 3
A new tRNA molecule carrying an amino acid pairs with
the second mRNA codon
Step 4
When the first and second amino acids are in place, an
enzyme joins them by forming a peptide bond between
them.
Step 5
As the process continues, a chain of amino acids is
formed until the ribosome reaches a stop codon (e.g.,
UAA, UAG, UGA) on the mRNA strand. The polypeptide
chain is released. Protein synthesis is complete.
This figure summarizes
the translation process
The process of converting the information in
messenger RNA into a sequence of amino acids that
make a protein is known as translation.
The role of transfer RNA (tRNA) is to bring the
amino acids in the cytoplasm to the ribosomes to
make proteins.
Proteins such as enzymes are mostly amino acids
chained together in a certain order.
Each group of three nucleotide bases represents a
codon in a DNA or mRNA that corresponds to a
specific amino acid or a start/ stop signal. This code
is picked up by the mRNA and is carried from the
nucleus to the cytoplasm.
The codon has its complement anticodon in tRNA.
Each amino acid that will form the protein molecule
to be synthesized is determined by the triplet code
or codon on the mRNA.
THANK YOU!
