1. The Structure and Function of DNA - Molecular Biology of the Cell - NCBI
A DNA molecule consists of two long polynucleotide chains composed of four types of nucleotide subunits. Each of these chains is known as a DNA chain, or a DNA ...
Biologists in the 1940s had difficulty in accepting DNA as the genetic material because of the apparent simplicity of its chemistry. DNA was known to be a long polymer composed of only four types of subunits, which resemble one another chemically. Early in the 1950s, DNA was first examined by x-ray diffraction analysis, a technique for determining the three-dimensional atomic structure of a molecule (discussed in Chapter 8). The early x-ray diffraction results indicated that DNA was composed of two strands of the polymer wound into a helix. The observation that DNA was double-stranded was of crucial significance and provided one of the major clues that led to the Watson-Crick structure of DNA. Only when this model was proposed did DNA's potential for replication and information encoding become apparent. In this section we examine the structure of the DNA molecule and explain in general terms how it is able to store hereditary information.
2. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
Each strand has a backbone made of alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups. Attached to each sugar is one of four bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), ...
Deoxyribonucleic acid (abbreviated DNA) is the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism.
3. What is DNA?: MedlinePlus Genetics
Jan 19, 2021 · Nucleotides are arranged in two long strands that form a spiral called a double helix. The structure of the double helix is somewhat like a ...
DNA is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Genes are made up of DNA.
4. What Is DNA?- Meaning, DNA Types, Structure and Functions - BYJU'S
DNA Packaging · DNA Cloning · DNA Replication Process · Properties of DNA
DNA is the hereditary material that contains the genetic code that makes up an organism. Explore more about DNA, its structure and functions at BYJU'S.
5. Figure: Structure of DNA - Merck Manuals Consumer Version
The DNA molecule is a long, coiled double helix that resembles a spiral staircase. In it, two strands, composed of sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate molecules, ...
Structure of DNA
6. DNA Structure - Visible Body
Each strand of DNA is a polynucleotide composed of units called nucleotides. A nucleotide has three components: a sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and a ...
A molecule of DNA consists of two strands that form a double helix structure.
7. DNA: molecular structure
DNA is made of two ("duplex DNA") dextrogyre (like a screw; right-handed) helical chains or strands ("the double helix"), coiled around an axis to form a double ...
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8. Discovery of DNA Structure and Function: Watson and Crick - Nature
DNA is a double-stranded helix, with the two strands connected by hydrogen bonds. A bases are always paired with Ts, and Cs are always paired with Gs, which is ...
The landmark ideas of Watson and Crick relied heavily on the work of other scientists. What did the duo actually discover?
9. DNA | Definition, Discovery, Function, Bases, Facts, & Structure | Britannica
Aug 16, 2023 · The nucleotides of DNA consist of a deoxyribose sugar molecule to which is attached a phosphate group and one of four nitrogenous bases: two ...
DNA, organic chemical of complex molecular structure found in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. It codes genetic information for the transmission of inherited traits. The structure of DNA was described in 1953, leading to further understanding of DNA replication and hereditary control of cellular activities.
FAQs
What Is The Structure Of Dna? ›
Each molecule of DNA is a double helix formed from two complementary strands of nucleotides held together by hydrogen bonds between G-C and A-T base pairs. Duplication of the genetic information occurs by the use of one DNA strand as a template for formation of a complementary strand.
What is the structure of the DNA answer? ›Each molecule of DNA is a double helix formed from two complementary strands of nucleotides held together by hydrogen bonds between G-C and A-T base pairs. Duplication of the genetic information occurs by the use of one DNA strand as a template for formation of a complementary strand.
What is the structure of the DNA system? ›DNA Structure
The DNA molecule is composed of units called nucleotides, and each nucleotide is composed of three different components such as sugar, phosphate groups and nitrogen bases. The basic building blocks of DNA are nucleotides, which are composed of a sugar group, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base.
DNA is made up of two strands of nucleotides. The nucleotides are made up of a sugar (deoxyribose in DNA), a phosphate, and a nitrogen base. The sugars and phosphates make up the "handrails" (or "backbone"), and are held together by covalent bonds.
Who explain the structure of DNA? ›The discovery in 1953 of the double helix, the twisted-ladder structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), by James Watson and Francis Crick marked a milestone in the history of science and gave rise to modern molecular biology, which is largely concerned with understanding how genes control the chemical processes within ...
What is the structure of DNA and RNA answer? ›DNA is double-stranded, forming a double helix, while RNA is usually single-stranded. The sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, whereas RNA contains ribose. Furthermore, DNA uses the bases adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine, while RNA uses adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine.
What is structure of DNA and RNA? ›The structure of DNA is a double helix, whereas RNA is a single helix. Their function and bases also differ from each other.
What is the structure of DNA as level biology? ›A DNA molecule is a double helix with two polynucleotide chains held together by hydrogen bonds between specific complementary base pairs. An RNA molecule is a relatively short polynucleotide chain.
What is DNA made of? ›DNA is made up of a chain of molecules called Nucleotides. Each nucleotide contains a nitrogen base, a sugar group and a phosphate group. Four possible nitrogen bases can be present in DNA; Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G) and Cytosine (C). Human DNA contains billions of DNA bases.
What is DNA explained simply? ›DNA is a short nickname for deoxyribonucleic (say: dee-OK-see-ri-bo-new-klee-ik) acid. DNA is the genetic information inside the body's cells that helps make people who they are. It's the instructions for how to make the body, like the code to a video game or blueprints for a house.
What are the types of DNA? ›
Three major forms of DNA are double stranded and connected by interactions between complementary base pairs. These are terms A-form, B-form,and Z-form DNA.
Did Rosalind Franklin discover DNA? ›The discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953 was made possible by Dr Rosalind Franklin's X-ray diffraction work at King's. Her creation of the famous Photo 51 demonstrated the double-helix structure of deoxyribonucleic acid: the molecule containing the genetic instructions for the development of all living organisms.
Who is the father of structure of DNA? ›James Watson is known as the Father of DNA, however, it is important to note that he did not discover DNA. Friedrich Miescher first isolated nucleic acids from pus cells in discarded surgical bands. The acidic substance that Miescher isolated was called as nuclein.
Who discovered the structure of DNA quizlet? ›James Watson and Francis Crick have been credited with the discovery of the structure of DNA. Watson and Crick used an x-ray photograph that Rosalind Franklin took of DNA.