Nucleic Acids Intro

1. Nucleic Acids Intro Nucleic acids are found in the nucleus. They include DNA and RNA. DNA comes with a complete set of instructions to make an entire organism.

2. Role of DNA • While you are growing you need DNA to produce more cells. • As an adult you also need DNA for growth, repair of damaged cells and to make proteins.

3. The Cell • DNA directs the entire operation by issuing instructions to make things you need such as proteins to make skin, hair, nails, and enzymes. • DNA allows organisms to make copies of themselves which is a requisite of life.

4. Chromosomes • Inside the nucleus you find DNA packaged into chromosomes. • You get one set of chromosomes from your mother and one set from you father. • Each cell has 46 chromosomes arranged into 23 pairs.

5. Watson and Crick • Watson and Crick are scientists that won the Nobel Peace Prize for discovering the structure of the DNA molecule. • The four nitrogen bases found in DNA are: • adenine • cytosine • guanine • Thymine • The shape of DNA is called the double helix.

6. Drawings protein carbohydrate nucleic acid lipid