DNA Structure, Replication, and Technology Topics in Depth
The Genetic Code
(A DaVinci Code for Biologists)You hear about DNA all the time in the news, movies, and a surprisingly high number of Law & Order: SVU episodes. But, do you really know what DNA is? Sure, you h...
DNA Packaging
The Best Things Come in Small Packages...Except for Full-Grown Bison, Which Require an Awesomely Big Package You know when your room gets messy, and you finally decide (that is, your mom yells...
From Genes to Proteins
From Here to There If you have been reading this far, you may be thinking that DNA is a bunch of chemicals. You also might be thinking about who would win in a fight between a monkey with a kn...
Replication
Copying: Cool for DNA, Cool for UsBack when some of Shmoop's classmates were in school, their teachers would always catch them copying. But, the classmates told their teachers that it was in their...
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Don't Stop Repeatin'—Polymerase Chain ReactionThere was once a great episode of Star Trek, where aliens called "tribbles" got on the ship and kept breeding to the point that the whole ship was fi...
Genomes
GenomesNo, Not Those Things on Your LawnA genome is the full complement of genes in an organism. Genomes range in size from 5000 bases (5 kb) in viruses to upward of 150 billion bases. It is amazin...
Recombinant DNA
Spider-Man and Other Examples of Recombinant DNAIn the most recent Spider-Man movie, a mutant spider bit Peter Parker and passed its spider genes to him, giving him super strength, vision, and web-...
Common Mistakes
The Genetic CodeMany people confuse DNA with RNA, which is why TV networks canceled their buddy cop drama. A few easy ways to tell the difference are as follows: DNA has no 2' hydroxyl, which is wh...
Test Your Knowledge!
The Genetic Code Questions1. Which of the following is not a polymer?(A) DNA(B) Adenine(C) Protein(D) RNA(E) Plastic2. Which of the following bases normally pairs with guanine?(A) Adenine(B) Thymin...
Made From Trees
Best of Murdered Trees (Books)Biology; 6th edition; Neil A. Campbell and Jane Reece © 2011 Pearson EducationThe Phylogenetic Handbook: A Practical Approach to Phylogenetic Analysis and Hypothesis...