(b)+DNA+Structure



What is DNA? = ** Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA, is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms ** = = DNA can be thought of as a blue print - responsible for containing information. = = A twisted ladder of information referred to as a "Double Helix". = = The steps of the ladder are actually base pairs (two nucleotide molecules have bonded). = =__ What is a Nucleotide? __= = media type="youtube" key="tuRxxgyLOes" height="390" width="640" = = Nucleotides create, or make up, DNA molecules. Each nucleotide has a base and a sugar-phosphate backbone. There are millions of nucleotides present in a DNA molecules, but there are only four different types. Some have the base adenine (A), some have guanine (G), some thymine (T) and some cytosine (C). = = Structure of a nucleotide: = = = = [] = =What is in DNA? = = DNA is divided into sections which each contain various proteins called genes. = = The backbone is made out of sugar-phosphate molecules. = =What does DNA do? = = Genetic material is made out of DNA and contains instructions to form a cell. = = There are four different nucleotide molecules: Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C) and Guanine (G). There can be millions of nucleotide molecules in the DNA, but they will always be one of those four types. Nucleotide molecules consist of a nitrogenous base and a sugar-phosphate backbone. They always go together in two ways: Adenine goes with Thymine and Cytosine goes with Guanine. They bond through hydrogen bonds which can easily be broken for replications and transcription. The reason the pairs always end up like that is because the A-T pair creates two hydrogen bonds, while the C-G pair creates three hydrogen bonds. This means that they can only form bonds with one other kind of nucleotide molecule, which keep the DNA working the way it's supposed to work. This can be shown in models by giving one pair a round end and the other pair a pointy end. It's not accurate but it shows clearly that they can only go together in one way. =



 The DNA as gene controls the production of proteins and these proteins are in turn responsible for the different characteristics. This is the reason why some cells are hair and others are feet.

Shape and structure of DNA:

And, to finish this off, a little video showing everything with some nice animations: media type="youtube" key="qy8dk5iS1f0" height="390" width="480"

Works Cited:

Access Excellence. "The Structure of the DNA Molecule Glossary." //The National Health Museum//. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. <[]>.

"Access : The Role of DNA Shape in Protein|[ndash]|DNA Recognition : Nature." //Nature Publishing Group : Science Journals, Jobs, and Information//. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. <[]>.

//DNA Structure//. Dir. Ppornelubio. //YouTube//. Google, 13 Sept. 2006. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. .

Eggling, Sue. "Nucleotide Structure." //Clackamas Community College Distance Learning//. 2003. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. <[]>.

Fredholm, Lotta. "The Discovery of the Molecular Structure of DNA - The Double Helix." //Nobelprize.org//. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. <[]>.

Pickering, W. R. "11.2 DNA, proteins and the characteristics of organisms." //Complete Biology//. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2000. 190-91. Print.

"Structure of DNA." //Access Excellence @ the National Health Museum//. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. <[]>.