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Why This Matters for Nursing: DNA contains the instructions for making proteins that run every body function. Understanding this helps you understand genetic diseases, how mutations cause problems, and how some medications (like antibiotics) work.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is the molecule that stores genetic information.
Structure: Double helix (twisted ladder) - Backbone: Sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate - Rungs: Base pairs
| Base | Abbreviation | Pairs With |
|---|---|---|
| Adenine | A | Thymine (T) |
| Thymine | T | Adenine (A) |
| Guanine | G | Cytosine (C) |
| Cytosine | C | Guanine (G) |
Base Pairing Rules: - A always pairs with T (A-T) - G always pairs with C (G-C)
"A-T, G-C" "Apples in Trees, Cars in Garages"
Or simply: "A and T are both tall letters"
DNA vs RNA: DNA has Thymine = "DNA stays home" (in the nucleus) RNA has Uracil = "RNA goes oUt" (leaves the nucleus)
| Feature | DNA | RNA |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | Deoxyribose | Ribose |
| Bases | A, T, G, C | A, U, G, C |
| Structure | Double-stranded | Single-stranded |
| Location | Nucleus | Nucleus and cytoplasm |
| Function | Stores genetic info | Carries/translates info |
Key: RNA has Uracil (U) instead of Thymine (T)
DNA → RNA → Protein
"DNA makes RNA makes Protein"
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