Science 10 – Understanding DNA

Front

What is DNA?

Back

Deoxyribonucleic acid

Genetic material that stores information, such as determining eye color and instructing cells on how to grow into a human.

Front

Describe DNA's shape.

Back

A double helix or a twisted ladder.

Front

What are nucleotides?

Back

Nucleotides are the smaller parts that make up DNA:

a phosphate group

a sugar

a nitrogenous base.

Front

What makes up the backbone of DNA?

Back

The backbone of DNA is made up of alternating phosphate group and sugar molecules, forming the sides of the ladder.

Front

What are the 4 nitrogenous bases in DNA?

Back

Adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine.

Front

What is the role of nitrogenous bases in DNA?

Back

The nitrogenous bases contain the actual information.

They bond to make up the rungs of the ladder.

They give the cell instructions for how to make specific proteins.

Front

What is the human genome?

Back

The human genome is the complete DNA sequence found in each cell, containing around 3 billion pairs of nitrogenous bases distributed in 46 chromosomes.

Front

What are the complementary base pairs?

Back

Adenine pairs with thymine, and guanine pairs with cytosine.

Front

What does this represent?

Back

A nucleotide

Front

Where in the cell is the DNA found

Back

The nucleus