Biochemistry 101
DNA viruses? RNA viruses? Retroviruses? What's up with all these different varieties of virus? To best understand these parasites, you need to understand the role and behavior of nucleic acids.
In this activity, you'll have the opportunity to explore the properties of a directional antenna. All you need is a metal cooking pot cover and an electronic device with a remote control unit.
DNA
Short for deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA is a nucleic acid. It is stored and protected within the nucleus. DNA is a long molecule composed of a sequence of four bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). It is the order of these bases that eventually codes for a specific protein.
The DNA molecule is double stranded. Each strand contains a complementary sequence of bases, meaning that the bases are paired up between complementary strands. The pairing of the bases is not random. A will pair with T, and G will pair with C. So if one strand has a T, that same place on the complementary strand has an A.
Determine the complementary sequence for the following two strands of DNA.
ATTAGCCCGGAGCTTTA
Answer
GCGCATTTAGTGTACCCA
Answer
RNA
Short for ribonucleic acid, RNA comes in several forms. One form constructs cellular structures, another form ferries amino acids, and a third form works as a messenger of the genetic code. The messenger RNA is called mRNA.
Like DNA, mRNA carries the code. The code carried by RNA is the complement of the DNA from which it obtains its sequence. Therefore, its coding is similar to the coding of a DNA complementary strand. One base, however, is different. RNA doesn't contain the DNA base thymine (T). In its place RNA uses the base uracil (U).
Using what you've learned, change the DNA code below into its RNA complement.
TAGCCGTTGCAAGGCTAGC
Answer
