AP Biology Unit III- All About DNA

Unit 3 – “All About DNA”

Essential Questions:

What are nucleic acids?
How does DNA connect all living things?
What does DNA do?
What discoveries led to our understanding of the structure and function of DNA?
How does DNA work?
What is RNA?
What does RNA do?
How does DNA act as the hereditary material? How does DNA get pass on?
How are proteins made?
What is the relationship between the structure of DNA, the structure of RNA, and the form and thus function of a protein?
What happens when things go wrong?
How do the genetic systems of viruses and bacteria differ from eukaryotes?
How is DNA organized into Chromosomes?
How does chromosomal organization relate to its functioning?
If two cells are genetically identical, how can they look very different and do very different things?
How does differential gene expression come about?
What happens when gene control goes awry?
What DNA technology exists and how is it conducted?
In what ways is DNA technology employed?
What are the ethical concerns and considerations surrounding DNA technology?

Objectives:

Define and illustrated the structure of nucleic acids..
Explore the historical research discoveries that led to the understanding of the structure and function of DNA.
Explain in detail the structure and function of DNA.
Explain in detail the role of RNA in protein synthesis.
Discuss the universality of the DNA code and how that relates to the interconnectedness of all living things.
Explain the “central dogma.”
Describe in detail the process of DNA replication.
Describe in detail Protein synthesis – Transcription and translation.
Explain how structure relates to function in DNA replication and transcription and translation.
Discuss the role of enzymes in the processes above.
Discuss how mistakes can be made and repaired during DNA replication.
Discuss how mistakes/modifications can be made during transcription and translation.
Discuss the sources of mutations – environmental and otherwise.
Understand the immediate and long term impact of mutations and modifications on the final product.
Illustrate the structure of a virus.
Explain the viral replication.
Detail the impact viruses have on the environment.
Detail bacterial reproduction and the structure of Bacterial DNA.
Explain various ways bacteria can pass on its DNA.
Describe the organization of DNA and proteins into Chromosomes.
Explain how this structure relates to its functioning.
Explain in detail different forms of gene control and differential gene expression.
Discuss the mechanism underlying cancerous cells.
Describe in detail the process if DNA cloning.
Discuss in detail the process of DNA analysis.
Discuss various practical applications already being used in DNA technology.
Discuss possible future uses of DNA technology.
Debate the ethical concerns and public impact of these DNA technologies.