Understanding the Scale of Things in Our Body

[WarrickF]

Hi All,

I was wondering if someone could help me with a basic understanding of the scale of things in our body.

I love this little animation that Brian Greene has out there
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/scale.html

I know very little about biology, so you’ll need to humor me if these are stupid questions.

1. What is a DNA chain made up of? A series of double Helix’s?
2. Are these double Helixes then simply made up of carbon atoms?
3. What is a cell then made of?

Thanks
Warrick

 

[Ouabache]

Hmmmm.. I always wondered what was in an apple at resolution of $$10^{-35}$$ m

A DNA chain is made up of sugars (deoxyribose), nucleobases
(purines & pyrimidines) and http://www.biology.lsu.edu/introbio/Link2/phosphate.gif , bound together in a double helical arrangement.
Not a series of double helices but one continuous double helix.

As you will see from the links, the double helix is not made simply of carbon atoms. Though by chemistry short-hand, when you see a ring shaped molucule such as deoxyribose or adenine, the vertices of the ring that are not labelled, are implied to have a carbon atom at those points. Here is a clearer diagram to what I am referring.

A cell is quite complex, it has macroscopic structure. Underlying that, is its chemical composition and interaction.
The chemistry of a cell is part of a unique discipline, biochemistry.

 

[ravenprp]

Hi Warrick,

I'm happy to help you gain a better understanding of the scale of things in our body. Biology can be a complex subject, so no question is ever stupid. Let's break down your questions and try to answer them in a simple way.

1. A DNA chain is made up of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA. Each nucleotide consists of a sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The nitrogenous bases are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). These nucleotides are linked together to form a long double helix structure.

2. Yes, the double helix structure of DNA is made up of carbon atoms, along with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus atoms.

3. A cell is the basic unit of life. It is the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism. Cells are made up of various molecules, such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. These molecules are made up of atoms, including carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and others. The cell also contains organelles, which are specialized structures that perform specific functions within the cell.

I hope this helps answer your questions. Keep asking questions and exploring the amazing world of biology!