Lesson 7 - DNA Structure and Function

Introduction
 

Getting Started

"Due to several elegantly executed experiments, by the mid-1950s researchers realized that DNA, not protein, is the genetic material. The story of the discovery of DNA structure resembles a mystery, with each clue adding to the total picture until the breathtaking design of DNA-a double helix-was finally unraveled. Through its ability to specify proteins, DNA brings about the development of the unique structures that make up a particular type of organism. DNA's sequence of nucleotides-> sequences of amino acids-> specific enzymes-> structures in organisms."


Focus on Learning
 
Use the course competencies listed below to focus your learning and use the lesson objectives to sharpen that focus.
 
Competencies By the end of the lesson , you should be able to:

  1. Describe structure and replication of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and chromosomes.
  2. Describe gene structure and protein synthesis.
 
Objectives

To master the competencies, you should seek to understand how:

  1. DNA stores genetic information regarding development, structure, and metabolic activities.
  2. DNA is a double helix containing four types of nucleotides that are always paired.
  3. DNA is able to replicate enabling genetic information to be passed from one generation of cells to the next.
  4. Mutations can occur when error occur during the replication process.
  5. Each gene specifies the amino acid sequence of one polypeptide of a protein.
  6. RNA molecules are involved in transcription and translation.
  7. The genetic code is a triplet code called a codon.


Reading Assignments
 
Reading Assignment Reading is a very important component of an internet course. Read the assigned pages from your textbook before proceeding to the Activities, Study Help, and Assessment Sections.
 
Textbook Read the Assignment in Mader Biology 9e Textbook:
DNA Structure and Function: Chapter 13
Gene Activity: How Genes Work: Chapter 14

Read the Assignment in Mader Biology 10e Textbook:
Molecular Biology of the Gene: Chapter 12


Activities
 
Complete the Animation Activities. Feel free to open your book and notes as you work on them. The information in these activities is very helpful when completing the Animation Quiz that follows.
 
Animations
Complete the Animation Activities by Clicking the Links Below:
Animation Activity 1 - DNA Synthesis-Replication
Animation Activity 2 - mRNASynthesis-Transcription
Animation Activity 3 - Protein Synthesis-Translation
Animation Activity 4 - Control of Gene Expression
 
Complete the Virtual Lab Activity. Feel free to open your books and notes as you work on it. Complete the activity by reading the instructions, performing the lab exercise, downloading the post lab quiz and report and filling it out. Be sure to complete and print out the data table embedded in each lab exercise. The information in this lab activity is very helpful when completing the Virtual Lab Quiz and Worksheet that follow.
 
Virtual Lab
Complete the Virtual Lab Activity by Clicking the Link Below:
Virtual Lab Activity: DNA and Genes


Study Help

 
It's time to review and practice what you have learned from your reading and instruction activities. Slide presentations, Chapter Outlines, Flashcards, and Student Learning Outcomes are provided to help you study. Feel free to open your book and notes as you use them.
 
Slide Presentation
Log-in to BlackBoard, navigate to the Textbook Reading Folder, click into the Reading Review Slide Presentation Folder, and click the Slide Presentation Link:
Slide Presentation - Chapter 13, 14 Mader Web Presentation
 
Practice Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard, navigate to the Textbook Reading Folder, and click the Reading Practice Quiz Link:
Reading Practice Quiz - Chapter 13, 14


Assessing Your Learning

 
It's time to assess what you have learned from your reading and instruction activities. The following reading, animation, virtual lab, and essay quizzes are graded assignments. Feel free to open your book and notes as you work on them. Be sure to submit your work as you complete it. Good luck!
 
Reading Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard, navigate to the Textbook Reading Folder, and click the Reading Quiz Link:
Reading Quiz - Chapter 13, 14
 
Animation Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard, navigate to the Animations Folder, and click the Animation Quiz Link:
Animation Quiz - 7
 
Virtual Lab Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard, navigate to the Virtual Lab Folder, and click on Virtual Lab Quiz Links:
Virtual Lab Quiz and Worksheet - 7
 
Essay Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard, navigate to the Essay Quiz Folder, and click on the Essay Link:
Essay Quiz - 7



Related Web Sites

 
Here is a website that I like. Click the icon to pursue this topic on the internet:

Have You Met The Objectives For This Lesson?