by Caden Ryan
What is DNA:
DNA, or Deoxyribonucleic Acid, is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic material of an organism as well as control cellular functions. You probably remember the shape of the DNA being a twisted step ladder. This is known as double helix shape, and is was discovered by scientists Watson and Crick in 1953. Its shape allows it to contain lengths of genetic code that helps decide what the organism is and what it can or cannot do. As DNA manages to make up an organism, what comes together to make DNA?
Base Materials:
The main component of DNA is a nucleotide with this composition: Deoxyribose sugar, a nucleotide base(more on that later), and a phosphate. This is similar to ribosomes as they are made up of ribose sugar and the other two materials. While these materials may seem basic, the organization of them are far from basic or simple.
DNA Model:
The DNA model as shown above is organized in a way that genetic traits can be created and an organism can be made. The Sugar and Phosphate are what make up the "struts" of the ladder, more or less seen as a backbone. The Nitrogen bases create the "rungs" and this is where the varying traits are made. Although there are only four nitrogen bases: Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Guanine; the organization of these bases and(more importantly) their pairs decide what organism anything is. The matches are Adenine to Thymine and Cytosine to Guanine as shown below.
Reflection:
Being taught this material, nothing really new at first jumped out at me at first. I had known about the four bases and how they connect, but the real depth that went into the lesson was really well done. Good explanation was put into the explanation of the materials that made it up and how the four bases work in varying organisms. How this can actually help outside Biology is possibly in some trivia tournaments or even relating other topics like say romantic relationships are somewhat similar. I don't really know, maybe creative interpretation was what DNA holds for you instead of me. Whatever it may, now you know DNA.
Citations:
http://www.delhidailynews.com/news/DNA-is-not-static--it-constantly-wiggles---morphs-into-different-shapes--study-1444713495/
http://biosocialmethods.isr.umich.edu/epigenetics-tutorial/epigenetics-tutorial-genome-structure/
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