What is DNA? DNA is a molecule that carries and stores all of the genetic information that makes up an organism. Every organism has DNA, and everyone’s is different. No two people have the same DNA, not even identical twins. DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid, and is composed of a sugar (deoxyribose), phosphate, and 4 nitrogenous bases, which when all correctly formed together create a double helix shape.
The Real Scientist: Rosalind Franklin’s Discovery
Although scientists knew DNA existed, the important characteristic such as its components, shape, and properties remained a mystery for a long period of time. Finally an advancement was made; scientist Rosalind Franklin was able to capture an X-ray image of DNA fibers, commonly referred
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The base pairs are very specific on which two can bond together based on the number of rings that they have. Adenine and Guanine are purines, meaning they are composed of two rings. Thymine and Cytosine are pyrimidines which means they are composed of one ring. Purines always bond with pyrimidines, therefore Adenine always bonds with Thymine, and Guanine always bonds with Cytosine. The base pairs are complementary, and almost fit together like a lock and key (CK-12 Foundation, 2017). These nitrogenous bases are bonded together with 1 hydrogen bond. The bases are located in the center of the DNA strand in a specific pattern according to the DNA they are apart of. The name for the base Adenine comes from a greek word “aden” meaning internal gland, and a chemical suffix “ine”. Another base, Thymine, gets its name from thymic acid which it was isolated from, obtained from the thymus gland with the chemical suffix “ine”. Guanine gets its name from guano which the chemical was first isolated from, and the chemical suffix “ine”. Lastly, Cytosine gets its name from “cyto” meaning cell, along with the chemical suffix “ine” that also makes up the other nitrogenous bases (Online Eytmology Dictionary, …show more content…
Deoxyribose is important in DNA because there is a lack of oxygen within it, which prevents the molecules from getting involved in chemical reactions, and helps avoid the DNA from being broken down. Because DNA is meant for long term use, it is a necessity that it has a strong base that prevents it from being decayed (Biology Stack Exchange, 2016). The outer part of DNA that keeps it all together is a called the backbone, which is composed of alternating sugar and phosphate molecules. This sugar-phosphate backbone is what creates the double-helix shape formed by two linear backbones that run opposite of each other (Scitable By Nature Education, 2017). The sugar is located in between one of the nitrogenous bases, and a phosphate molecule. The phosphate and the sugar in the structure are important because they provide a lot of support in the backbone, and help complete the DNA strand.
New Advancements Because of DNA
Though it may have taken science a long time to make any real discoveries about DNA, this information has helped science advance in many ways. This new knowledge can be used for many different ways in many different careers. People are now able to determine who may have been involved in a crime based on the DNA found, which provides crucial evidence in a court case. DNA can also be used to analyze different chromosomes, and determine why certain genetic diseases may occur and how the DNA of those
DNA, the molecule of life that carries genetic information in humans and almost all other organisms, has been considered as one of the greatest discoveries until now. If DNA could not have been discovered, we would not be able to do or test numerous things such as paternity test and pathological confirmation. There are four main scientists who contributed their lives, knowledge, and ambitions to find out the DNA double helix, a DNA molecule that has two strands winding around each other: James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind Franklin. Throughout historical backgrounds and environments, their discovery of
For many years people have been interested on how our body works, and why we are the way we are. The discovery of the DNA takes place in 1952 with John Watson, Francis Crick, and the less famous for this discovery, Rosalind Franklin. However, there have been more people that have been crucial to the discovery of DNA, as it is Gregor Mendel with his publishes results of inheritance of factors in pea plants, and many other scientist that without actually understanding or trying to find the truth about DNA, they encouraged people to be more interested on what are the reasons we are the way we are.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is the building blocks of our bodies, it makes us who we are. Most of the DNA in our bodies is the same and is located in the cell nucleus (Nuclear DNA) or a small amount in the mitochondria (Mitochondrial DNA/mtDNA).
DNA or to be exact deoxyribonucleic acid is the fundamental of every living organisms genetics. It is a code that not more than one person shares. DNA is unique to every human and not one human have the same DNA code. This scientific discovery was a tremendous leap of success in the criminal justice system. In the early 1900's the United States Criminal justice system was not as precise as it is now. Many were convicted wrongly and it was very hard to pin point who committed a crime because there was no valid evidence tying a person onto a crime. At this time scientists and chemist where on the verge of a ground breaking discovery. Chemist James Watson and Francis Crick determined the double-helical structure of DNA, DNA itself was identified
Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, like proteins, is a linear macromolecule found in all living cells. In contrast to proteins, however, it is build up of only 4 different types of building blocks, called nucleotides. Nucleotides are composed of a base, being either a purine or pyrimidine group, and a 2'-deoxyribosyl-tri-phosphate. The four types of bases composing the sequence of DNA are purines and pyramidines. The sugar is a 2'-deoxy ribose which is phosphorylated at its 5' hydroxyl group. Free nucleotides contain either one, two or three phosphates representing the mono-, di-, or triphosphate form of the nucleotide, the latter being known as dATP, dGTP, dTTP, and dCTP. Single DNA strands are not stable, but associate with a second strand to
“The story of how DNA structure was discovered is not only one the most important tales in the history of science, it is also the root of a great controversy that will live on for many years”. On this note, I, Rosalind Franklin, deserve more credit for the discovery of DNA than I have been given. There are three main reasons of why I should receive more credit: one being that I was robbed for my work without receiving any appreciation in return. First, I produced x-ray photographs of DNA that indicated it was the shape of a double helix roughly in the form of a spiral staircase. As Aaron Klug, my colleague, once said about me, “Her photographs are among the most beautiful of any substances ever taken”. No only this but, I came up with the
DNA is one of the many things that make up your body. Today, most people know that it carries each person’s unique genetic code. People also know that it has a double helix structure. However, do you know what it’s made up of? ¬Many people do not know much about DNA. There are many ways that DNA is helpful to the world. It helps us understand from heredity of diseases and how to find a killer who committed a crime. Many people even use DNA for genetic engineering so that they can create an organism with a specific gene that was not there before. DNA is very complex and has many tasks that it has to complete.
DNA has been titled the most important scientific discovery of the 20th century. DNA is cells which contain chemicals and It carries the information that determines what you are like. Understanding the structure of DNA allowed other scientists to work on the individual elements of the DNA helix. The biggest research is the human genome project. Numerous number of people consider that the two scientists James Watson and Francis revealed DNA in the 1950s. However, Swiss chemist Friedrich Miescher was first to recognize DNA in the late 1860s. After Miescher’s recognition of DNA, it opened new branch to gain knowledge. Phoebus Levene and Erwin Chargaff passed out a series of research determinations which revealed additional information about the
DNA is made up of nucleotides that contain a phosphate group, a sugar group, and one of four nitrogen bases: adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine. It is the life that an organism needs to live and reproduce
If I could meet an important historical figure, I would wish to meet Rosalind Franklin, the woman who changed the world of chemistry. Franklin was a dedicated chemist who researched the structure of DNA using X-Ray chromatography, a new and dangerous imaging method that eventually led to her early death. She worked among strong-minded men, many of whom disagreed with her due to her gender. Nevertheless, she still contributed to their research, even commenting on the inaccuracies of Watson and Crick’s first DNA model. Her remark, as well as her “photo 51” that showed the double-stranded nature of DNA, led Watson and Crick to the double-helix model we know today and a Nobel Prize. Her research has shaped our understanding of DNA, and her persistent
Rosalind Franklin was a chemist who made the first DNA structure in 1953.. DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid. A DNA model
DNA is a double helix structure which helps to keep the structure of the molecule stable. DNA has a phosphate sugar back bone and covalent bond which also help with the stability of the DNA. DNA also has coiling which is also very helpful with the stability of the molecule.
The attachment of the bases to the sugar-phosphate backbone is on the first carbon on the deoxyribose ring through a glyosidic bond enabling the formation of a nucleotide. The bonding of the bases to the phosphates is almost perpendicular with the hydrophobic bases stacking on top of each other while the negative phosphates are on the outside. The pairing of the bases between both sugar-phosphate backbones is what enables the double helix structure of DNA to form. The four bases fall into two groups based on the number of hydrogen bonds which can be form between the rings. Adenine and thymine will form two hydrogen bonds whereas the cytosine and guanine will form three hydrogen bonds due to the orientation of the bases. The monomers of the nucleotides can then
The discovery of DNA is arguably one of the most important breakthroughs of genetics in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its discovery is littered with successes, failures, and even heartache. Numerous scientists are attributed to the discovery of DNA as a genetic material and even many more are also credited to the discovery of the molecule, structure, and function. Without the work of these remarkable scientists, the medical advancements over the last 50 years would not be possible.
One important area of DNA research is that of genetics and medical research. Due to our discovery of DNA, our ability to actually diagnose diseases early on has been vastly improved. In addition, we have been able to better assess a person's genetic susceptibility to specific diseases. In doing so, we have also paved the pathway to formulate brand new drugs to treat these diseases. In fact, drugs can essentially be custom made to complement a person's personal biochemistry and genetic makeup. For those diseases that were previously considered