The nitrogen or nitrogenous bases make up the “letters” of your genome. You can think of these as the exciting part of DNA. DNA stands for nucleotides: The four bases of DNA Here we find the acidic phosphate group of one nucleotide bonded to the deoxyribose sugar of the next to form a long line of nucleotides. This is like the “boring” part of DNA since it is a repetitive sequence, one after the other. DNA stands for deoxyribose and acid: The “backbone” of DNA The two “railways” or “backbones” are joined together through weak hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous bases (adenine and thymine cytosine and guanine). These nucleotides are joined together in rows through the chemical bond between the phosphate group of one and the deoxyribose sugar of the next and so on. This molecule’s chemical composition can be split into three major structural parts: a phosphate group, a deoxyribose sugar, and a nitrogenous base.ĭNA is a polymer made of units called nucleotides. This led to the conclusion that the ladder is composed of only A-T and C-G runs, called complementary bases, positioned in specific sequences that codify for particular characteristics.īut let’s take a closer look at this fascinating and unique molecule to understand why it is so fundamental to the perpetuation of life. CC- Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.Įrwin Chargoff discovered in 1949 that even though different organisms have different amounts of DNA, the amount of adenine was always the same as thymine, and the amount of cytosine was always the same as guanine. The rungs and side rails of the DNA ladder. The “side rails” are composed of units called nucleotides, which are made of two substances: a phosphate group and a sugar. The “rungs” of a DNA molecule stand for small chemical bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). What does DNA look like?Īs you have seen in many images, including the one above, DNA looks like a twisted ladder. All of that and so much more stem from our understanding of this structure. You have probably heard stuff about cloning or the production of insulin in a lab. This has led to remarkable discoveries and so many practical uses, especially in the medical field. Since then, scientists have engaged in an authentic race into knowing more about it. By 1952, it was confirmed that DNA is the molecule responsible for the passing of genetic information. In 1869, Friedrich Miescher was the first scientist to isolate nucleic acid. This is due to a characteristic that sets it apart from any other molecule: the ability to copy itself. Almost every single one of the cells in the body contains an exact copy of DNA. It is passed on from one generation to the next and holds the key to our survival on the planet. Pixabay.ĭNA is the chemical molecule that carries genetic information in all living things. Perhaps you remember it from school, but do you remember everything there is to it? This hard-to-pronounce name comes from its structure, a sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate backbone (acid) with units called bases sticking out from it located in the cell’s nucleus. Interesting facts about DNA and what it stands forĭNA stands for “deoxyribonucleic acid,” and it is one of the most fascinating things you ever saw.It sends blueprints to the cell to manufacture proteins.
Defining what DNA stands for: the Double helix.DNA stands for nucleotides: The four bases of DNA.DNA stands for deoxyribose and acid: The “backbone” of DNA.
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