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Structure of DNA

Submitted by asalamon on Wed, 11/27/2019 - 09:25

DNA is a type of macromolecule responsible for genetic material.  It is composed of monomers known as nucleic acids.  Nucleic acids are formed from thre different subunits: pentose sugar, phosphate group, and base.  The pentose sugar is composed of five different carbons starting with the 1'C where the base is attached.  There is no OH group on the 2'C but an OH group on the 3'C.  The phosphate group is attached to the 5'C.  The base of nucleic acids can either be a purine or pyramidine.  Purines have two carbon rings and are Guanine and Adenine.  Pyramidine bases have a single carbon ring and are Thymine and Cytosine.  Between each nucleic acid, a phosphodiester bond betweeen the phosphate group on the 5'C of one nucleic acid and the 3'C of another nucleic acid holds the strand together.  The phosphate and sugar form the backbone of the DNA strand.  Attaching the two strands together are the bases.  Guanine and cytosine pair together and form three hydrogen bonds while adenine and thymine bond together with two hydrogen bonds.  DNA is a double stranding helical molecule which has ten base pairs per turn.  It is negatively charged as well.  During replication, a semiconservative method is used meaning each resulting strand has newly formed strand and a parent strand

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