Theme D - Continuity & Change
Unlocking The Secrets How DNA Stores Data
Table of content
What is DNA? 📌
-
Think of DNA as nature's hard drive. 💽
-
It stores data in the form of long sequences of bases: A, C, G, and T.
-
The amazing thing? It can arrange these bases in ANY order, and then copy them perfectly!
Real-world example: DNA is like a mega long string of beads, where each bead can be one of four colors (A, C, G, T). Imagine copying this string perfectly every time!
How does DNA store information about proteins? 📌
- Main job: store the sequence of amino acids in polypeptides (that eventually become proteins).
- BUT! Here's the tricky part. DNA uses a coded system.
- Challenge: 4 bases vs. 20 amino acids. 🤔
- 1 base can't represent 1 amino acid.
- Combining 2 bases? 16 possible combos. Still not enough.
Let's talk about mRNA & Codons 📌
- 3-base sequence on mRNA = Codon. 💌
- These codons are like secret instructions for amino acids.
- Out of the 64 possible codons
- All but 3 tell the cell which specific amino acid to add to a growing polypeptide.
- Imagine a table with these codons (like a decoder ring!). AUG = methionine (or just call it Met 😉) and it’s the "Start" sign for translation.
- There's also a "Stop" sign! Three codons signal to end translation.
Unlock the Full Content! 
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Biology HL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟
Theme D - Continuity & Change
Unlocking The Secrets How DNA Stores Data
Table of content
What is DNA? 📌
-
Think of DNA as nature's hard drive. 💽
-
It stores data in the form of long sequences of bases: A, C, G, and T.
-
The amazing thing? It can arrange these bases in ANY order, and then copy them perfectly!
Real-world example: DNA is like a mega long string of beads, where each bead can be one of four colors (A, C, G, T). Imagine copying this string perfectly every time!
How does DNA store information about proteins? 📌
- Main job: store the sequence of amino acids in polypeptides (that eventually become proteins).
- BUT! Here's the tricky part. DNA uses a coded system.
- Challenge: 4 bases vs. 20 amino acids. 🤔
- 1 base can't represent 1 amino acid.
- Combining 2 bases? 16 possible combos. Still not enough.
Let's talk about mRNA & Codons 📌
- 3-base sequence on mRNA = Codon. 💌
- These codons are like secret instructions for amino acids.
- Out of the 64 possible codons
- All but 3 tell the cell which specific amino acid to add to a growing polypeptide.
- Imagine a table with these codons (like a decoder ring!). AUG = methionine (or just call it Met 😉) and it’s the "Start" sign for translation.
- There's also a "Stop" sign! Three codons signal to end translation.
Unlock the Full Content!
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Biology HL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟