Final answer:
DNA, located in the nucleus, is structured as a double helix with sugar-phosphate backbones and nitrogenous base rungs. Genes are the "sentences" encoded by DNA, which tell cells what proteins to make. Chromosomes are located in the nucleus and DNA can be found in both the nucleus and the nucleoid of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Where is nuclear DNA located in a eukaryotic organism?
In eukaryotic cells, nuclear DNA is located inside the nucleus.
Describe the structure of DNA.
DNA has a double helix structure, consisting of two strands that are complementary to each other. Each strand is made up of sugar-phosphate backbones with nitrogenous bases forming the rungs of the ladder. The bases always pair up in a specific way: adenine (A) with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) with guanine (G).
What is another name for the "sentences" that DNA encodes?
The "sentences" that DNA encodes are called genes.
What do genes tell a cell to do?
Genes contain instructions that tell a cell what proteins to make and ultimately determine the cell's characteristics and functions.
Where are chromosomes located in a cell?
Chromosomes are located inside the nucleus of a cell.
Where can DNA be found in the cell?
DNA can be found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and in the nucleoid region of prokaryotic cells.
What are the sides of the DNA ladder made of?
The sides, or backbones, of the DNA ladder are made of sugar-phosphate molecules.
What are the "rungs" of the DNA ladder made of?
The "rungs" of the DNA ladder are made of pairs of nitrogenous bases.
What sugar is found in DNA? In RNA?
Deoxyribose sugar is found in DNA, while ribose sugar is found in RNA.
How do the bases bond together?
The bases bond together using hydrogen bonds. Adenine (A) always pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) always pairs with guanine (G).
Why is RNA necessary to act as a messenger?
RNA is necessary to act as a messenger because it can easily move out of the nucleus and into the cytoplasm, where it can carry the genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes for protein synthesis.
Why can't the code be taken directly from the DNA?
The code cannot be taken directly from the DNA because DNA is located in the nucleus, and proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm. RNA serves as an intermediary molecule that can transport the genetic information out of the nucleus.
Where are proteins made in the cell?
Proteins are made at the ribosomes in the cytoplasm of a cell.
How do some cells become brain cells and others become skin cells, when the DNA in all the cells is exactly the same?
Cells become specialized through a process called differentiation. Although the DNA in all cells is the same, different genes are expressed in different cell types. This differential gene expression leads to the development of different cell types and their specific functions.
Why is DNA called the "blueprint of life"?
DNA is called the "blueprint of life" because it contains the instructions, encoded in its sequences of bases, for the development, functioning, and reproduction of all living organisms.