UNIT 4: DNA Structure & Cellular
Reproduction
4A: DNA Structure & Replication
Roadmap for the year:
Unit 1: Interconnectedness of Life
Unit 2: Ecological Biochemistry
Unit 3: Cellular Biology: Structure Leads to Function
Unit 4: DNA Structure and Cellular Reproduction
 4A- DNA Structure and Replication
 4B- Asexual Reproduction and Mitotic Cell
Division
Unit 5: Gene Expression and Inheritance
Unit 6: Evolution and Classification of Living Things
Unit 7: Biotechnology, Human Biology, and Disease
Themes for the year:
How does this unit
contribute to your
understanding of the
following themes?
 Life on Earth has
various Levels of
Organization
 The Structure of
Living Things
leads to their
Function
The Big Picture for Unit 4…
DNA is a self-replicating molecule which is the universal code for life; it enables
an organism to transmit hereditary information and, along with the environment,
determines an organism’s characteristics.
o What is the importance of DNA?
o How is DNA copied and passed from one generation to the next?
o What is the role of DNA in passing on traits and proper development?
Suggested Resources…
Textbook – Biology (Miller and Levine, 2010) (Sections 12.2, 12.3)
Notes packets
Homework worksheets
Lab activity packets
PowerPoint presentations
Media resources (videos, images, Internet)
Directions: Below are check lists of things you should know and things you should be
able to do by the end of the unit. Use this tool to help you prepare for the unit assessment.
By the conclusion of this unit, you should know
the following:
1. Watson, Crick, Franklin and Wilkins are generally
credited with the discovery of the double helix
structure of DNA.
2. DNA is a nucleic acid consisting of two long strands of
covalently bonded nucleotides, held to each other by
hydrogen bonds between complementary nitrogen
bases.
3. A nucleotide contains deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate
group, and a nitrogen base (adenine, guanine,
cytosine or thymine).
4. The double-helix model explains Chargaff’s rule of
base pairing and how the two strands of DNA are held
together.
5. DNA is a molecule which is able to undergo selfreplication using enzymes.
6. Replication in most prokaryotic cells starts from a
single point and proceeds in two directions until the
entire chromosome is copied.
7. In eukaryotic cells, replication may begin at dozens or
even hundreds of places on the DNA molecule,
proceeding in both directions until each chromosome
is completely copied.
8. A gene is a section of DNA (or part of a chromosome)
that codes for a trait or part of a trait.
9. Changes in DNA (mutations) can occur spontaneously
or due to the effect of mutagens. An altered gene may
be passed on to every cell that develops from it
By the conclusion of this unit, you should be able
to do the following:
Name the scientists who contributed to the discovery of
the basic structure of DNA.
Identify the chemical components of DNA by
labeling/coloring nucleotides and the double helix.
Given a strand of DNA, determine the sequence of the
complimentary strand.
Compare and contrast chromatin and chromosomes.
Relate the terms DNA, chromosome, and trait.
Sequence the different parts of the cell cycle and justify
the importance of each.
Articulate and/or model the steps of DNA replication.
Given the percentage of one particular nucleotide in a
sample, use Chargaff’s rules to determine the relative
percentages of the other 3 types of nucleotides.
Recognize when a mutation has occurred during DNA
replication, identify its possible causes, and realize that
this change might affect the function of the affected gene.
DNA Structue and Replication Terms
Words found in the textbook Page 344:
1)
Adenine:
2)
Guanine:
3)
Cytosine:
4)
Thymine:
Words found in the textbook Page 346:
5)
Rosalind Franklin
6)
James Watson
7)
Francis Crick
Words found in textbook glossary
8)
Chromatin
9)
Chromosome
10)
Base Pairing (complementary base pair)
11)
Eukaryote:
12)
Homologous Chromosome (structures):
13)
Mutation:
14)
Prokaryote:
15)
Replication:
Words NOT Found In Textbook:
1)
Deoxyribose:
2)
Double Helix:
3)
Histone:
4)
Human Genome Project: