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The Structure of DNA

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material in cells, composed of nucleotides that include a phosphate group, sugar, and one of four bases (A, T, G, C). The structure of DNA is a double helix formed by base pairing rules, where A pairs with T and G pairs with C, following Chargaff's rules of base equivalence. The sugar-phosphate backbone provides structural support and defines the molecule's directionality.

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3 views

The Structure of DNA

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material in cells, composed of nucleotides that include a phosphate group, sugar, and one of four bases (A, T, G, C). The structure of DNA is a double helix formed by base pairing rules, where A pairs with T and G pairs with C, following Chargaff's rules of base equivalence. The sugar-phosphate backbone provides structural support and defines the molecule's directionality.

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emanselmo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Structure

of DNA
Eric Martin B. Aquino
Learning Points

Importance of the
DNA Structure Base Pairing Rules sugar-phosphate
backbone.
What is DNA?
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is
genetic material found in the
nucleus of cells. It is a complex
polymer which carries the genetic
code. This determines all of the
characteristics of a living organism.
What is a
nucleotide?
Nucleotides are the units which
DNA is composed of.

Each nucleotide includes a


phosphate group, a sugar section
and one of the four bases.
Parts of a nucleotide

Phosphate Base

Sugar
A closer look
Base Pairing
Rules
Base pairs
Each nucleotide has a base. There
are four different bases in DNA:
thymine (T), adenine, (A), guanine
(G) and cytosine (C).
A and T are a pair. G and C are
another pair. The complementary
pairs are hydrogen bonded
together. This maintains the DNA
structure.
Chargaff’s Rule
Chargaff's rules (given by Erwin Chargaff) state that in
the DNA of any species and any organism, the amount of
guanine should be equal to the amount of cytosine and
the amount of adenine should be equal to the amount of
thymine. This pattern is found in both strands of the
DNA.
Hydrogen
Bonding of
the
nitrogenous
bases
DNA is
Double Helix
DNA is in a double helix shape.

It consists of two parallel strands


of DNA twisted around each other.
Grooves
The indentations or depressions that
run along the length of a DNA double
helix, consisting of a wider "major
groove" and a narrower "minor groove",
which are formed due to the
asymmetrical arrangement of base pairs
along the sugar-phosphate backbone,
providing sites for proteins to bind and
interact with the DNA molecule.
The Sugar Phosphate
Backbone
The sugar-phosphate backbone
forms the structural framework of
nucleic acids, including DNA and
RNA. This backbone is composed of
alternating sugar and phosphate
groups, and defines directionality
of the molecule.
Thank You!

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