1.1a Structure of DNA Flashcards
What is DNA?
Deoxyribonucleic Acid -
Double stranded molecule held together by complementary bases that provides instructions for protein synthesis (sequence of bases corresponds with the sequence of amino acids in protein synthesised)
What is the structure of DNA?
Double stranded helix and antiparallel structure made up nucleotides with a sugar-phosphate backbone and held together by complementary base pairs (by hydrogen bonds)
What is the structure of a nucleotide?
A nucleotide consists of a deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate and a base.
The base is attached to the first carbon and the phosphate to the fifth carbon of the deoxyribose sugar.
What are the four bases in DNA?
Adenine (A)
Thymine (T)
Cytosine (C)
Guanine (G)
What holds the bases of different nucleotides together?
Weak hydrogen bonds
How are nucleotides joined together on the DNA strand?
Strong chemical bonds between the deoxyribose sugar (3’ end) of one nucleotide and the phosphate of another.
These links form the sugar-phosphate backbone of the DNA molecule.