The Structure Of Dna And Rna (Page 2 of 3) in pdf

The Structure Of Dna And Rna Page 2

Construct a single strand of DNA nucleotides in the following sequence (order):

5’ ATGCTTCGAAGCCTGA 3’

(to make the strand, connect the deoxyribose of one nucleotide with the phosphate group of

another nucleotide)

Once you have completed the strand, have your teacher initial your answer sheet.

DNA is made up of 2 strands of nucleotides joined together. The 2 strands join with one another by

hydrogen bonds between the bases of each strand.

Each base can only join with one other base. These bases are complementary to one another.

Using your textbook, find the complementary bases and record the information on your answer

sheet: a. adenine is complementary with _____________________

b. thymine is complementary with _____________________

c. cytosine is complementary with _____________________

d. guanine is complementary with ______________________

The single nucleotide strand you constructed in step 4 is the left side of a DNA molecule.

7. Construct the right side of the DNA molecule by matching complementary DNA nucleotides to

this nucleotide strand. The base pairs should be joined by the plastic connectors, which

represent hydrogen bonds.

8. Once you have constructed the DNA molecule have your teacher initial your answer sheet.

9. Answer the following questions on your answer sheet.

a. What is the sequence of nucleotides that make up the right side of the DNA molecule.

b. The DNA molecule is described as being “ladderlike”. Which 2 molecules of the

nucleotides make up the sides of the ladder?

c. Which part of the nucleotides make up the steps of the ladder?

d. What joins these two molecules together?

The actual shape of a DNA molecule is a double helix.

10. Twist the assembled molecule 360

counterclockwise to show the helical structure.

11. Once you have done this, have your teacher initial your answer sheet.

12. Join your molecule with the molecule made by other groups to get a more realistic picture of

the size of the molecule, which can be thousands of base pairs in length.

The Structure Of Dna And Rna Page 2