DNA Structure
This twisted shape describes the structure of DNA
What is a double helix?
This is the number of barriers we had to break through to reach DNA in a cell.
What is three?
Human DNA is packaged into 46 of these structures.
What are chromosomes?
The process cells use to make proteins.
What is protein synthesis?
A change in the sequence of DNA bases.
What is a mutation?
These two components make up the "side rails" or the backbone of DNA.
What are sugar and phosphate groups?
These are the three barriers surrounding DNA in a plant cell.
What are the cell wall, cell membrane, and nuclear membrane?
Smaller sections of DNA on chromosomes that contain instructions.
What are genes?
(When we study protein synthesis, we are focused on a segment of DNA (specific gene) rather than the whole strand.)
This organelle reads mRNA and builds proteins.
What is the ribosome?
A mutation can change the order of bases and affect this molecule that is produced.
What is a protein?
DNA contains four nitrogen bases that pair to form the "rungs" of the DNA ladder.
What are adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine?
In the lab, this mechanical process helped break apart the cell wall of the fruit or peas.
What is crushing or mashing the sample?
(Peas we used a blender; Strawberries we used our hands!)
Humans have two copies of each chromosome because they receive one set from each of these.
Who are their mother and their father?
This first step of protein synthesis copies DNA into mRNA. This step occurs in the nucleus.
What is transcription?
Mutations may change these observable features of an organism.
What are characteristics or traits?
The bonds between nitrogen bases that hold the two DNA strands together.
What are hydrogen bonds?
This type of chemical helped break apart cell and nuclear membranes.
What is detergent/soap?
(We used dish soap)
Genes contain instructions for making these molecules in the body.
What are proteins?
This molecule carries genetic instructions from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosome.
What is messenger RNA (mRNA)?
Mutations change the order of these building blocks in proteins.
What are amino acids?
These four scientists helped discover the structure of DNA.
Who are Watson, Crick, Franklin, Wilkins?
When DNA was extracted, it had this appearance.
What is a white, cloudy/stringy precipitate?
DNA wraps around these protein structures to help organize and condense it inside the nucleus.
What are histones?
This second step of protein synthesis occurs at the ribosome and builds a protein.
What is translation?
Mutations can be harmful, helpful, or this third possibility.
What is neutral?