Question about DNA

2009-12-08 15:12:27

#1

Brasso: member; +1,549|7208

How does DNA's shape affect its function in chromosomes, nucleotides, and single genes?

I know that in chromosomes, there are certain mutations that add pieces in and change the shape of the chromosome itself. That's fine for the cell itself, but when cell division occurs, there's an uneven split of genes, right? I have no idea about nucleotides and single genes though.

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2009-12-08 15:15:47

#2

DesertFox-: The very model of a modern major general; +796|7262|United States of America

I don't rightly get how the shape of DNA can affect the function of nucleotides at all when DNA is made up of nucleotides, wtf m8?

2009-12-08 15:24:32

#3

Pochsy: Artifice of Eternity; +702|6120|Toronto

Its called secondary and tertiary structure. I vaguely remember it from grade 12 Biology. I did well in the course...but I really don't remember the specifics. I know that the tertiary structure of a protein was extremely important to its function, but I do not recall if the same was true for DNA, or in what way specifically any changes to tertiary structure altered function.

Hopefully I'm within the odor of things and not leading you on goose chases.

The shape of an eye in front of the ocean, digging for stones and throwing them against its window pane. Take it down dreamer, take it down deep. - Other Families

2009-12-08 15:31:08

#4

Brasso: member; +1,549|7208

DesertFox- wrote:
I don't rightly get how the shape of DNA can affect the function of nucleotides at all when DNA is made up of nucleotides, wtf m8?

err i think i meant something more like: "how can differently shaped nucleotides affect the function of DNA" and so on...

Pochsy wrote:
Its called secondary and tertiary structure. I vaguely remember it from grade 12 Biology. I did well in the course...but I really don't remember the specifics. I know that the tertiary structure of a protein was extremely important to its function, but I do not recall if the same was true for DNA, or in what way specifically any changes to tertiary structure altered function.

Hopefully I'm within the odor of things and not leading you on goose chases.

thanks, i just looked that up. apparently primary structure is the nucleotide sequence, secondary is the double-helix, and tertiary are the nucleosomes. i just don't understand how differences in each of those can affect function in DNA. maybe the question is fucked up...

Last edited by haffeysucks (2009-12-08 15:35:39)

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2009-12-08 18:57:19

#5

Brasso: member; +1,549|7208

can anyone else clarify?

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2009-12-08 19:01:08

#6

S.Lythberg: Mastermind; +429|7024|Chicago, IL

DNA's shape doesn't really serve a function, the base pairs code for proteins that are heavily shape dependent, but the DNA itself is just a single long strand

2009-12-08 19:07:09

#7

mtb0minime: minimember; +2,418|7232

But why does it have to be shaped like a helix?

I have no idea, but I'm kind of curious to know now that it's been mentioned.

2009-12-08 19:09:01

#8

S.Lythberg: Mastermind; +429|7024|Chicago, IL

mtb0minime wrote:
But why does it have to be shaped like a helix?

I have no idea, but I'm kind of curious to know now that it's been mentioned.

Its an artifact of the base pairing, the hydrogen bonding between the base pairs twists the phosphate spine into a helix shape.

2009-12-08 19:21:49

#9

Brasso: member; +1,549|7208

someone must have given me the wrong question then. i mean, nucleotides pretty much all have the same shape, correct? just a 5 carbon molecule with different bases attached to them?

edit: ye*

Last edited by haffeysucks (2009-12-08 19:22:18)

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2009-12-08 21:06:18

#10

S.Lythberg: Mastermind; +429|7024|Chicago, IL

haffeysucks wrote:
someone must have given me the wrong question then. i mean, nucleotides pretty much all have the same shape, correct? just a 5 carbon molecule with different bases attached to them?

edit: ye*

roughly, some have 2 bonding sites, some have 3.

2009-12-09 03:04:09

#11

Burwhale: Save the BlobFish!; +136|6800|Brisneyland

S.Lythbergs answers are very good in this case. The sequence of the base pairs is the main factor effecting genes. The way its shaped is just packaging. Protein sequences and structure are a different thing again.

2009-12-09 05:25:46

#12

Cybargs: Moderated; +2,285|7294

AP Bio is a bitch aint it

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2009-12-09 06:29:33

#13

Benzin: Member; +576|6576

Sounds like you got the wrong question. Lythberg is right, though: DNA's shape is a result of the various bonding. It has nothing to do with its purpose. The strand separates, however, during the creation of RNA. That's something entirely different, though...

PROTEIN on the other hand is very dependent on shape. The proteins have certain shapes that match to cells structures and allow cells to use that protein and perform their functions. Think about the various plugs the world uses: Australia has essentially the same plug as North America, but it has a twist to the inside for the two prongs, therefore making them incompatible with North American sockets. The socket is a cell structure and the plugs are the proteins.

gotit?

BF2S Forums Question about DNA

DesertFox- wrote:

Pochsy wrote:

mtb0minime wrote:

haffeysucks wrote:

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