the structure of a nucleotide as the monomer from which nucleic acids are made
To include the differences between RNA and DNA nucleotides, the identification of the purines and pyrimidines, the type of pentose sugar and the formation of phosphodiester bonds (the sugar phosphate ‘backbone’).
the structure of adenosine di-phosphate (ADP) and adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) as phosphorylated nucleotides
(i) the structure of the DNA molecule, including a review of the evidence for complementary base pairing (Chargaff’s rules)
(ii) practical investigation into the purification of DNA by precipitation
semi-conservative DNA replication
To include the roles of the enzymes helicase and DNA polymerase, the importance of replication in conserving genetic information with accuracy and the occurrence of random, spontaneous mutations.
the nature of the genetic code
To include reference to the triplet, non-overlapping, degenerate and universal nature of the code and how a gene determines the structure of proteins including enzymes by ordering the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide.
the structure of RNA (ribonucleic acid) and how it differs from that of DNA
transcription and translation of genes resulting in the synthesis of polypeptides
To include the role of RNA polymerase, messenger (m)RNA, transfer (t)RNA and ribosomal (r)RNA (details of post transcriptional modification are not required).