LESSON 3.3 only bond with guanine.

Adenine and thymine, cytosine, and guanine are

THE DNA
Every gene is a piece of
DNA molecule. The genes
contain messages which
are expressed through
certain complex
processes. The shape of
one’s face, skin color, and
the size of one’s feet are Figure 2. DNA is made up of two strands that form a double helix (left). It is
some of the composed of nitrogenous bases,sugar and phosphate molecules (right).
characteristics that result
from the expression of RNA
these numerous genes Another type of nucleic acid is ribonucleic acid or RNA where it plays an
found within the important role in protein synthesis. The structure of RNA is similar to that of
chromosome of every cell. DNA. However, RNA differs from DNA in three ways.
 RNA is single-stranded. PROTEIN SYNTHESIS
If you unwind a  The base thymine is not found in RNA. Another nitrogen base called Scientists discovered that DNA controls protein synthesis, the process by
chromosome, you will URACIL is found in its place. Uracil is a pyrimidine and is which proteins are made from amino acids. Some proteins are part of the
discover a long molecule complementary to adenine.  structure of each organism, and other proteins are enzymes that control
of DNA with about  The sugar molecules in RNA are ribose sugars. Ribose sugars have most chemical reactions. The characteristics of an organism are
100,000 genes. one more oxygen atom than deoxyribose sugars. determined by its protein and ultimately, by its DNA.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Class/MLACourse
/Modules/MolBioReview/chromosome.html REPLICATION (DNA makes DNA) What do you think is the role of RNA in making proteins in the cell? RNA
DNA replicates to produce a copy molecules or the workers for protein synthesis get the instructions from the
Just like building a house, a plan of the structure of the house and to of the genetic material that will be
determine how it will look like after construction requires a blueprint. All DNA on how the protein should be assembled.
transferred to new cells during
organisms have blueprints that contain information that will determine their mitosis or to new gametes during
physical and chemical characteristics. This blueprint is Deoxyribonucleic Moreover, do you know that there are three types of RNA that help build
meiosis. When a DNA molecule proteins? You can consider these RNA molecules to be the workers in the
acid (DNA). Each DNA molecule is packed in a separate chromosome. The unzips to form two strands, the
total genetic information stored in the chromosomes is called the genome. production of proteins.
base pairs separate. Each single 
strand of DNA then picks up bases  Messenger RNA (mRNA) brings information from the DNA in the
DNA is mainly found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and the nucleoid present in the cell’s cytoplasm. In
region of prokaryotic cells. It is made up of two strands that are coiled that nucleus to the protein manufacturing area, the cytoplasm. In the
this way, two complete molecules cytoplasm, the mRNA becomes the template of information to make
from a double helix .If a DNA molecule is uncoiled, a ladder-like structure of DNA are created. Notice that
will result. The sides of the DNA ladder are composed of the sugar proteins. 
each new DNA molecule has the  Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) a component of ribosomes and ribosomal
deoxyribose and phosphate molecules with two nitrogen bases in each same order of base pairs as the
step of the ladder held together by hydrogen bonds. A base, a sugar proteins hold tightly into the mRNA using its information to assemble
original. The copying process is the amino acids in the correct order. rRNA serves as the site for
molecule, and a phosphate group form a nucleotide. A chain of nucleotides called replication.
from a DNA molecule. DNA has nitrogen bases classified into two groups: attachment of mRNA and tRNA and for protein synthesis. 
Figure 3. Unzipping of DNA Molecule 1
purines and pyrimidines. The pyrimidines are thymine (T) and cytosine (C),  Transfer RNA (tRNA) supplies amino acids to the ribosome to be
and the purines are adenine (A) and guanine (G). Because of their assembled as protein. It translates the protein message carried by
The following are the events while DNA copies itself:
chemical structure adenine can only bond with thymine and cytosine can the mRNA through protein synthesis.
TRANSCRIPTION
The process of transcription involves the transfer of information from the
DNA to the messenger RNA (mRNA). Transcription produces mRNA’s that
carry information copied from the DNA. The “transcribed” message leaves
the nucleus and directs the making of proteins in the cytoplasm, while the
DNA remains in the nucleus.

The following events can help you understand the process of transcription:

TRANSLATION
The process by which a sequence of nucleic acids in RNA is used to direct
the production of a chain of specific amino acids is called translation. In
translation, each set of three nucleotides in an mRNA molecule codes for
one amino acid in a protein. The flow of information from gene to protein is
based on codons. A codon is a three-base “word” that codes for one amino
acid. The main players in the mRNA translation process are ribosomes and
another kind of RNA called transfer RNA (tRNA). Transfer RNA (tRNA)
translates the three-letter codons of mRNA to the amino acids that make
up proteins. The following events in translation can help you understand
the process: