DNA is a nucleic acid polymer made up of four nucleotides, it contains the genetic code in all living organisms.

A nucleic acid is a polymer made up of nucleotides, an example is DNA.

A polymer is a chemical made up of smaller repeating chemical groups.

A nucleotide is a chemical group that make up the building blocks of DNA, the four types are coded A, T, C and G.

A DNA molecule is made up of two nucleic acid chains that spiral around each other to form a double helix.

The structure of DNA

Combined science

The genome

The genome, the environment and phenotype

Pupils will learn about dominant and recessive alleles, and how to use models of single gene inheritance to make predictions about the genotypes and phenotypes of offspring.

Pupils learned about flower structure, wind and insect pollination, fertilisation, seed and fruit formation and dispersal.

This unit covers the structure and function of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, DNA as the genetic material, and key genetic terms. It also explains protein synthesis, genetic variants, and how DNA structure affects proteins. The emphasis is on using models to explain scientific concepts.

DNA and the genome

In plant and animal cells, the genome is stored in the ...

DNA is a nucleic acid polymer. How many nucleic acid strands make up each DNA molecule?

Put these in size order, starting with the smallest.

Add more than four colours of jelly baby.

The photograph shows a model of part of a DNA molecule. It is made from liquorice and jelly babies. What would improve the model?

Models are exact copies of things such as DNA.

Models are always much larger than the things they represent.

Models help to explain things that are difficult to see or understand.

Scientists often use models such as the DNA models you have studied. Why?

a polymer made of four nucleotides, which make up the genetic code

a chemical made from many smaller chemical groups

a polymer made up of nucleotides, an example is DNA

the building blocks for nucleic acids and DNA

The drawing shows a bacterial cell. Which structure (A, B or C) contains the genetic material?

A large chemical molecule made of smaller groups.

A short section of DNA carrying the genetic code for a process or feature.

All organisms have similarities in their DNA. Put these examples in order, starting with the example of two things that have the most similar DNA.

What do scientists call the sections of DNA in a chromosome that lie between genes?

True or false? Only genes make up the genome of an organism.

Humans and bananas are very closely related.

Humans and bananas share many similar features.

Humans and bananas have no similar features.

Humans and bananas have common life processes.

Which is the best explanation for why the genomes of humans and bananas have similarities?

The structure of DNA

Lesson outcome