Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Presentation PDF

Deoxyribonucl eic acid by- Josh Maheshwari, Paavni Gupta and Chaitanya Nagpal  WHAT IS DNA 1.DNA is the acronym of Deoxyribonucleic Acid. It is an organic compound which is a unique molecular structure and is responsible for transmitting the...

Deoxyribonucl eic acid by- Josh Maheshwari, Paavni Gupta and Chaitanya Nagpal  WHAT IS DNA 1.DNA is the acronym of Deoxyribonucleic Acid. It is an organic compound which is a unique molecular structure and is responsible for transmitting the hereditary materials from parents to offspring. 2.It is found in most cells of a living body and it also plays a crucial role in the production of Proteins.  STRUCTURE OF DNA 1.Nucleotides are the basic building blocks of DNA. 2.Each nucleotide contains for nitrogenous bases : Adenine (A) : Guanine (G) : Cytosine (C) : Thymine (T) 3. The bases Adenine with Thymine and Guanine with cytosine are connected to form chemical bonds called base pairs.  TYPES OF DNA DNA occurs in three major structural forms: A-DNA, B-DNA, and Z-DNA. The three differ in their helical shape, handedness, and conditions of formation.  A-DNA Right-handed helix. Wider than the other types Key Features : 1. Rarely present in normal physiological conditions 2. Major and Minor grooves can be easily observed 3. Found under dehydrating conditions.  B-DNA Right-handed helix. Most common DNA forms in cells Key Features Most common type of DNA Found under physiological conditions (hydrated environment). It is in a symmetrical patter with Major and Minor grooves present alternately.  Z-DNA Left-handed helix. The double helix twist towards the left side in a zig zag pattern Key Features: 1. It has a very different structure compared to A DNA and B DNA 2. It is very difficult to observe Z DNA as it is very unstable.  HOW DOES DNA WORK DNA contains the instructions for an organism to develop, survive and reproduce. DNA sequences are converted into messages that are used to produce proteins, which are the complex molecules that do most of the work in our bodies  Functions of DNA Replication Function: The process by which DNA makes an exact copy of itself. Importance: Ensures genetic material is passed accurately to daughter cells during cell division. Gene Expression Function: The process of converting the information in DNA into functional products like proteins. Steps: Includes transcription (DNA to RNA) and translation (RNA to protein). Mutation Function: A change in the DNA sequence. Importance: Can lead to genetic variation, which is essential for evolution, but can also cause diseases if harmful.  DISCOVERY OF DNA 1.Johann Friedrich Miescher was a Swis scientist who discovered DNA in 1960 while conducting a research on white blood cells. 2.Dr. James Watson is known as the Father of DNA.  FUN FACTS !!! 1. A sugar molecule in DNA is called a deoxirybose as it lacks 1 oxygen molecule compared to RNA. 2. DNA is actually not a protein, it just plays an important role in synthesizing proteins. 3. DNA is about 40 km long which is almost 24 miles. 4. We humans may look different from each other but 99.9% of our DNA are the same. 5. Human DNA is 98% identical to a chimpanzee's DNA 6. DNA enables molecules to copy itself during cell division.