DNA Structure and Function
DNA is in the form of a double helix, which looks like a twisted ladder. The outside of the double helix is made up of sugars and phosphate. This is called a sugar-phosphate backbone and is held together by a covalent bond. There are also four different nitrogenous bases. The four bases are Thymine (T), Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), and Guanine (G). Guanine can only pair with Cytosine, and Thymine can only pair with Adenine. The nitrogenous base pairs are held together by a hydrogen bond. The covalent bond holding together the sugar and phosphate is a lot stronger than the hydrogen bond holding together the nitrogenous base pairs. A sugar-phosphate bond paired with a single nitrogenous base is known as a nucleotide. DNA is like a blueprint for the cell, which helps to construct different components. It helps to control the day-to-day function of the cell.
Source: learn.genetics.utah.edu
DNA is in the form of a double helix, which looks like a twisted ladder. The outside of the double helix is made up of sugars and phosphate. This is called a sugar-phosphate backbone and is held together by a covalent bond. There are also four different nitrogenous bases. The four bases are Thymine (T), Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), and Guanine (G). Guanine can only pair with Cytosine, and Thymine can only pair with Adenine. The nitrogenous base pairs are held together by a hydrogen bond. The covalent bond holding together the sugar and phosphate is a lot stronger than the hydrogen bond holding together the nitrogenous base pairs. A sugar-phosphate bond paired with a single nitrogenous base is known as a nucleotide. DNA is like a blueprint for the cell, which helps to construct different components. It helps to control the day-to-day function of the cell.
Source: learn.genetics.utah.edu