BIOL 112 Chapter 3: Nucleic Acids-DNA Structure, Assembly, Organization

• School: UBC
• Department: Biology
• Course: BIOL 112
• Professor: Maryam Moussavi

Document Summary

Double helix structure composed of two strands coiled around each other to form a sort of spiral staircase. Gave immediate clues to its function banisters: formed by the linear backbone of the paired strands steps: formed by the pairing of the subunits at the same level in each strand. Major biological functions (roles): stores genetic information. Encodes for proteins that provide structure and do much of the work of the cell. Differences in genes is accounted by the order of individual subunits (bases) of. Gene expression the production of a functional gene product (turning on of a gene) Genes usually have no effect on the organism u(cid:374)less (cid:862)tur(cid:374)ed o(cid:374)(cid:863) Gene regulation the various ways in which cells control gene expression: transmits genetic information. Enable species of organisms to maintain their identity through time (from parents to offspring) Genetic information in dna guides the development of the offspring. Characteristics of dna to serve as genetic material.