The

Central Dogma of DNA

by Ms. Chawla

Title Page
 Lecture Objectives:
•  Students will understand the central dogma of
molecular biology. Additionally, they will learn
how this is applied in regards to genotype and
phenotype.
•  The exact methodology will also be understood,
as it relates to the structure and function of DNA,
RNA, and proteins.

Lecture Objectives
 NGSS Content Standards
Addressed:

HS-LS1-1.Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure
of DNA determines the structure of proteins, which carry out the essential
functions of life through systems of specialized cells.

MS-LS3-1.Develop and use a model to describe why structural changes to
genes (mutations) located on chromosomes may affect proteins and may
result in harmful, beneficial, or neutral effects to the structure and function of
the organism.

Standards Addressed
 Genotype Vs. Phenotype

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYAHx7NiF3g Animation/Dual Coding

 Take a moment and think:

•  Take a moment and think about the video.

What is the difference between genotype
and phenotype?

•  Note your answers on the lecture note

handout.
Genotype controls Phenotype
•  Genotype (our genetic material) controls
the way our proteins give rise to distinct
features in our appearance, but how
does this process work?
•  An example of this can be seen in the
adjacent photo of two lions.
•  Both are of the same species, however
their genetic makeup caused one to be
an albino lion, while the other has the
normal phenotype fur color.
•  Proteins are responsible for this change
in appearance, as they are the result of
the central dogma of molecular biology.

Educational Hook
Incomplete Dominance:

•  When a Gene X codes for more

protein, it is said to be transcribed
much more efficiently than Gene Y.
•  This allows the amount of Protein X
to be greater than the amount of
Protein Y.
•  An example of lower expression of
Gene Y can be due to incomplete
dominance.
Incomplete Dominance:
Codominance:
•  Codominance is a form
of dominance wherein
the alleles of a gene pair
in a heterozygote are
fully expressed.
•  This results in offspring
with a phenotype that is
neither dominant nor
recessive.
•  A typical example
showing codominance is
the ABO blood group
system.
Albinism:
•  Albinism occurs when the protein
tyrosinase is defective.
•  Tyrosinase directs the synthesis of
melanin, a pigment found in the skin and
eyes.
•  Heterozygotes with one functional copy
of tyrosinase produce enough melanin to
not display the phenotype.
•  However, recessive homozygotes will
lack all pigment and result in an albino
phenotype.
 Now You Try!
•  Identify each of the following as incomplete
dominance, codominance, or albinism.

_______________
_________________ _______________
Progress Monitoring
How Do Genes Produce Proteins?

•  Gene expression: the process by which genes

produce proteins.

•  This occurs in two stages:

–  Transcription

–  Translation
The Central Dogma of Molecular
Biology

Visual Aid
 Transcription:
•  Transcription is the first step in gene expression.
It involves copying a gene's DNA sequence to
make an RNA molecule.
•  Transcription is performed by enzymes called
RNA polymerases, which link nucleotides to form
an RNA strand (using a DNA strand as a
template).
 Transcription: (cont.)
•  Transcription has three stages: initiation, elongation, and
termination.
•  In eukaryotes, RNA molecules must be processed after
transcription: they are spliced and have a 5' cap and poly-A tail put
on their ends.
•  Transcription is controlled separately for each gene in your genome.

Visual Aid
 Translation
•  Translation is the process in which ribosomes in
the cytoplasm or ER synthesize proteins after the
process of transcription of DNA to RNA in the
cell's nucleus.
•  In translation, messenger RNA (mRNA) is
decoded in a ribosome to produce a specific
amino acid chain, or polypeptide.
 Translation: (cont.)
•  During translation, a cell “reads” the information in a
messenger RNA (mRNA) and uses it to build a protein.
•  Actually, an mRNA doesn’t always encode—provide
instructions for—a whole protein. Instead, what we can
confidently say is that it always encodes a polypeptide, or
chain of amino acids.

Visual Aid
Visual Aid
 Coding Example:

UAC UUC GGC

mRNA strand

AUG AAG CCG

“Anticodons” or tRNAs

Met Lys Pro

Amino acids SmartArt
 Concluding Activity: Coding
Problem:
UCA GUA UUC
mRNA strand

____ ____ ____

“Anticodons” or tRNAs

____ ____ ____

Amino Acids
Conclusion and Acknowledgements:
•  The central dogma of molecular biology is that
DNA is transcribed to RNA which is then
translated into proteins.
•  Proteins give rise to different phenotypes.


Any questions?

Note: This lecture has been adapted from the North
Web Community College and Khan Academy.