What Is DNA | Genetics | Biology | FuseSchool

Summary

This video script explores DNA, its location in eukaryotic cells like animal, plant, and fungi, and in prokaryotes like bacteria. It explains DNA's role in carrying genetic information and determining characteristics through genes. DNA is a polymer composed of nucleotides, each with a phosphate, sugar, and nitrogen base. The four bases—adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine—pair up (A with T, C with G) to form the double helix structure, essential for life's building blocks and individual traits.

Takeaways

• 🧬 DNA is present in all living organisms, with some viruses containing RNA instead.
• 🌐 DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, a complex molecule that carries genetic information.
• 🔬 Eukaryotic cells, such as those in animals, plants, and fungi, contain DNA within their nucleus.
• 🧵 DNA is located on chromosomes, which occur in pairs and vary in number by species.
• 👥 Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, while other species like elephants and carrots have different counts.
• 🦠 Prokaryotes, like bacteria, lack a nucleus and thus have their DNA in the cytoplasm.
• 🧬 DNA is composed of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of the molecule.
• 🔋 Each nucleotide consists of a phosphate group, a sugar group, and a nitrogen base.
• 🔬 The four nitrogen bases in DNA are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).
• 🔗 DNA's structure is a double helix, formed by base pairing (A with T and C with G) and hydrogen bonding.

Q & A

What does DNA stand for?

DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid.

In which types of cells is DNA typically found?

DNA is typically found in eukaryotic cells such as animal cells, plant cells, and fungi.

What is the structure of chromosomes within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells?

Chromosomes within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells are generally X-shaped and occur in pairs.

How many pairs of chromosomes do humans have?

Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes.

What are prokaryotes and where is DNA located in them?

Prokaryotes are cells that lack a nucleus, such as bacteria, and their DNA is located in their cytoplasm.

What is the role of DNA in living organisms?

DNA carries the genetic information that determines the characteristics of living things.

What are genes and how are they related to DNA?

Genes are specific sections of DNA that have a genetic code for making particular proteins, thus giving us individual characteristics.

How does DNA control our body?

DNA controls our body by coding for specific proteins, which are the building blocks of life.

What are the four bases found in DNA?

The four bases found in DNA are adenosine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).

How do the bases in DNA pair up?

In DNA, adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G), forming hydrogen bonds.

What is the shape of the DNA molecule?

The DNA molecule forms a twisted shape known as a double helix.

Outlines

00:00

🧬 DNA: The Essence of Life

This paragraph introduces DNA, explaining that all living organisms have it, with some viruses containing RNA. DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid and is found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, forming X-shaped chromosomes that vary in number by species. Prokaryotes like bacteria and archaea lack a nucleus, so their DNA is in the cytoplasm. DNA is a complex molecule that carries genetic information determining an organism's characteristics. It is unique to each individual, except for identical twins. DNA is composed of genes, which are sections of DNA that code for specific proteins, influencing traits like eye color. Proteins are essential for life, and DNA's role in coding them is crucial for survival, development, and reproduction.

Keywords

💡DNA

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that carries the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses. In the video, DNA is highlighted as the fundamental component found within the chromosomes of eukaryotic cells, such as those in animals, plants, and fungi. It is also mentioned that some viruses use RNA instead of DNA. The video emphasizes that DNA is unique to each individual, except for identical twins, and it is what determines our characteristics, such as eye color.

💡Eukaryotic cells

Eukaryotic cells are a type of cell that contains a nucleus, which houses the genetic material. The video explains that most cells, including animal, plant, and fungal cells, are eukaryotic. Inside these cells, DNA is located within the nucleus and is organized into chromosomes. This is a key point in understanding where DNA is stored and how it is protected within complex organisms.

💡Chromosomes

Chromosomes are structures within the nucleus of a cell that contain the genetic material DNA. The video mentions that chromosomes are X-shaped and occur in pairs, with the number of chromosomes varying by species. For example, humans have 23 pairs, elephants have 28 pairs, and carrots have nine pairs. Chromosomes are where DNA is found, and they play a crucial role in the transmission of genetic information during cell division.

💡Prokaryotes

Prokaryotes are organisms that do not have a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, such as bacteria. The video explains that because prokaryotes lack a nucleus, their DNA is located in the cytoplasm rather than being enclosed within a nuclear membrane. This is a significant distinction between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and impacts how genetic material is organized and replicated.

💡Genes

Genes are specific sequences of DNA that contain the genetic code for making particular proteins. The video describes genes as short sections of DNA that determine individual characteristics, such as eye color. Genes are crucial for understanding how DNA influences the traits and functions of living organisms, as each gene codes for a specific protein that contributes to the organism's structure and function.

💡Proteins

Proteins are large, complex molecules that play a vital role in the structure, function, and regulation of the body's cells, tissues, and organs. The video explains that proteins are the building blocks of life and that genes within DNA code for specific proteins. This coding process is how DNA controls the body's development and function, highlighting the importance of proteins in translating genetic information into tangible biological functions.

💡Nucleotides

Nucleotides are the basic building blocks of DNA. The video describes DNA as a polymer made up of repeated nucleotide subunits. Each nucleotide consists of a phosphate group, a sugar group, and a nitrogen base. Nucleotides are essential for understanding the physical structure of DNA and how it stores genetic information.

💡Nitrogen bases

Nitrogen bases are the components of nucleotides that pair up to form the rungs of the DNA ladder. The video lists the four bases as adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). The pairing of these bases (A with T, and C with G) is critical for DNA structure and function, as it allows for the accurate replication and transmission of genetic information.

💡Double Helix

The double helix is the iconic twisted ladder-like shape that DNA forms due to the pairing of nitrogen bases. The video mentions that the bases pair up, forming hydrogen bonds, which leads to the formation of this structure. The double helix is not only visually distinctive but also crucial for DNA's stability and its ability to replicate accurately.

💡RNA

RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a molecule similar to DNA that is involved in the coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes. The video notes that some viruses use RNA instead of DNA. RNA plays a critical role in protein synthesis, acting as a messenger that carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes, where proteins are produced.

💡Hydrogen bonds

Hydrogen bonds are weak chemical bonds that occur between nitrogen bases in DNA, allowing the two strands of the double helix to bind together. The video explains that adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G) through hydrogen bonds. These bonds are essential for the stability of the DNA molecule and for ensuring that genetic information is accurately copied during cell division.

Highlights

DNA is found in all living organisms, with some viruses containing RNA instead.

DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, a complex molecule that carries genetic information.

Most cells are eukaryotic, with DNA located in the nucleus and organized into chromosomes.

Chromosomes are found in pairs, with the number varying by species, such as 23 pairs in humans and 28 in elephants.

Prokaryotes like bacteria and archaea lack a nucleus, so their DNA is in the cytoplasm.

DNA determines the characteristics of living things, with each individual having a unique DNA sequence except for identical twins.

Genes are specific sections of DNA that code for particular proteins, influencing traits like eye color.

Proteins are the building blocks of life, and DNA controls the body's development and functions through gene expression.

DNA is composed of nucleotides, which are the basic units of its structure.

Each nucleotide consists of a phosphate group, a sugar group, and a nitrogen base.

DNA has four nitrogen bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).

The bases pair up specifically, with A pairing with T and C pairing with G, forming a double helix structure.

The double helix is a twisted ladder shape that characterizes the physical form of DNA.

DNA's location, structure, and composition are crucial for understanding genetics and heredity.

Genes within DNA are responsible for the expression of individual characteristics.

The unique sequence of DNA nucleotides is what makes each organism distinct.

Understanding DNA's role is essential for studying life sciences, genetics, and evolution.

Transcripts

[Music]

in this video we are going to learn

about DNA where it is found and what it

actually is and what it is made of all

living things have DNA or in the case of

some viruses they have RNA instead DNA

stands for deoxy ribbon nucleic acid

let's start with where it is found most

cells are eukaryotic animal cells plant

cells and fungi Etc inside ukar cells

you have a nucleus within most nuclei

there are x-shaped chromosomes

chromosomes occur in pairs but the

number of chromosomes change depending

upon the species humans have 23 pairs

elephants have 28 Pairs and carrots have

nine pairs DNA is found within these

chromosomes Aria and bacteria are

procaryotes and because they do not have

nuclei in their DNA it is located in

their

cytoplasm so what is DNA it's a large

complex molecule that carries the

genetic information that determines the

characteristics of living things and

other than identical twins we all have

our own unique

DNA DNA contains lots and lots of SE

sequences some sections of these

sequences have a specific genetic code

for making particular

proteins and these special sections are

called

genes a gene is just a short section of

DNA and because each gene codes for a

specific protein it is in these genes

that give us our individual

characteristics such as whether you have

blue eyes or brown

eyes proteins are the building blocks of

life and as our genes code for specific

proteins this is how DNA controls our

body and helps us to survive develop and

reproduce but what is DNA made up of DNA

is made up of lots of molecules called

nucleotides DNA is a polymer because it

is a large molecule composed of repeated

subunits the nucleotides each nucleotide

contains a phosphate group a sugar group

and a nitrogen base when people think of

DNA they usually think of these bases

there are four bases adenosin thyine

cytosin and guanine but just remember a

T C and G and it is best to remember in

this order a t c g because a and t bases

pair up and C and G bases pair up the

bases pair up forming hydrogen bonds and

the DNA forms a twisted shape that is

known as a double

Helix so there you have DNA you should

know that it is usually found in the

chromosomes within the nuclei of cells

it is a polymer and it is made up of

lots of nucleotides that contain bases

there are four bases A T C and G and the

bases pair up as a t and CG