Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN:9780134580999
Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RQ: The correct sequence of levels forming the structural hierarchy is A. (a) organ, organ system,...
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Question
What are two questions you developed from reading this passage?

Transcribed Image Text:Everyone has heard of DNA, but what does it do? What does it look like?
DNA or Deoxyribonucleic acid is a molecule that contains the instructions an
organism needs to develop, live, and reproduce. These instructions are found inside
every cell, and are passed down from parents to their children. The chemical
information found inside of DNA affects how our body looks and functions. It's
interesting to note that about 99.9% of the DNA of every person on the planet is exactly
the same. The remaining 1% that is different makes each one of us unique.
DNA is made up of subunits (or smaller, repeating
phosphate
molecules) called nucleotides. Each nucleotide contains
a phosphate molecule and a sugar sugar molecule
(deoxyribose). These repeating phosphates and sugars
make up the backbone of DNA. Additionally, each
base
deoxyribose sugar
nucleotide contains a nitrogen base. The four types of
nitrogenous bases are:
Adenine (A)
Oscienceaid.co.uk
• Thymine (T)
Guanine (G)
• Cytosine (C)
The sequence (order) of these bases is what determines DNA's instructions, or
genetic code. Similar to the way the order of letters in the alphabet can be used to form
a word, the order of nitrogen bases in a DNA sequence forms genes, which in the
language of the cell, tells cells how to make proteins. Cells then use these proteins to
build our bodies and make all of the molecules that help us to complete all of our life
processes such as digesting our food. In fact, the DNA of all living organisms is
organized in this way. That means that humans share common DNA with worms,
bacteria, and even plants!
Although DNA looks like long, clumpy strings under a microscope, it actually has
a specific shape. This shape is called a double helix, which looks like a twisted ladder.
On the outside of the double helix are two sets of backbones (phosphate and sugar

Transcribed Image Text:molecules) that hold the DNA together. Between the backbones are the nitrogen bases
represented by the letters A, T, C, and G. A different nitrogenous base connects to each
backbone unit, and then connects to another base in the center. Only certain sets of
nitrogenous bases can connect, or fit together. You can think of them as pieces of a
puzzle -- A only connects with T and G only connects with C. This is called
complementary base pairing, because these specific pairs always match or connect
only with each other.
The structure of DNA
– so long, in fact, that they can't fit
into cells without the right packaging. If you were able to
unravel all the DNA molecules from all of the cells in your body
DNA molecules are long-
and placed them end to end, it would stretch to the Sun and
back several times! In order to fit inside cells, DNA is coiled
tightly to form structures we call chromosomes. Humans have
23 pairs of chromosomes, which are found inside the cell's
Adnne A
The (
Cye
nucleus. Although all organisms share the basic structure of
DNA, each species may have different amounts of DNA or
number of chromosomes. For example, dogs have 39 pairs of
chromosomes and a cat has only 19 pairs.
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