What is dna composed of

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Composition of DNA: Key Components and Structure

Basic Chemical Structure of DNA

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Composition
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses. The fundamental components of DNA include a pentose sugar (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and nitrogenous bases . These components form the backbone of the DNA structure, with the sugar and phosphate groups creating a repeating pattern along the DNA strand .

Nucleotide Subunits
DNA is composed of four types of nucleotide subunits: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). These nucleotides are categorized into purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (cytosine and thymine) . Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a deoxyribose sugar, and a phosphate group . The sequence of these nucleotides encodes genetic information.

DNA Double-Helix Structure

Polynucleotide Chains
DNA molecules consist of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double-helix structure. These chains are held together by hydrogen bonds between complementary bases: adenine pairs with thymine (A-T) and guanine pairs with cytosine (G-C) 34. This complementary base pairing is crucial for the replication and transcription processes of DNA.

Base Pairing and Species-Specific Composition
The base composition of DNA can vary between species, with the ratio of adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine being characteristic of each species. For example, the DNA of the dipteran Chironomus tentans has a guanine plus cytosine content of about 30%, which is different from that of Drosophila . This variation in base composition is used to study phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity among organisms 26.

Elements and Modifications in DNA

Major Elements in DNA
DNA is primarily composed of five major elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus . These elements form the structural framework of the DNA molecule. The phosphate groups link the deoxyribose sugars of adjacent nucleotides, creating the sugar-phosphate backbone of the DNA strand.

Potential Modifications
Occasionally, DNA may contain modified bases such as 5-methylcytosine or hydroxymethylcytosine, which can substitute for a small fraction of the parent bases . These modifications can have significant biological implications, including the regulation of gene expression and the maintenance of genomic stability.

Conclusion

In summary, DNA is a complex molecule composed of nucleotide subunits, each containing a nitrogenous base, a deoxyribose sugar, and a phosphate group. The double-helix structure of DNA, formed by two polynucleotide chains, is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between complementary bases. The base composition of DNA varies among species and can include modified bases that play crucial roles in genetic regulation. Understanding the composition and structure of DNA is fundamental to the study of genetics and molecular biology.

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Most relevant research papers on this topic

THE DNA BASE COMPOSITION OF INDIVIDUAL CHROMOSOMES AND CHROMOSOME SEGMENTS FROM CHIRONOMUS TENTANS

Chironomus tentans DNA has an unusual composition with 30% guanine + cytosine content, similar to that of testis tissue, and significant variations in base data were found between whole chromosomes and segments.

1969·

6citations

·B. Daneholt et al.

Base Compositions of DNA from some Malarial Parasites

Base compositions of DNA from some malarial parasites can indicate phylogenetic relationships and suggest differences in genetic information, but the converse does not necessarily indicate genetic identity.

1969·

14citations

·W. Gutteridge et al.

Chemical Structure of DNA

DNA molecule is made up of deoxyribose sugar and two polynucleotide chains, each containing four different types of nucleotide subunits.

2016·

2citations

·Varsha Butola et al.

Chemistry of DNA

DNA's chemical structure consists of sugar, phosphoric acid, and four nitrogen bases, with the base composition being characteristic of the species.

2017·

1citation

·E. Rosenberg

DNA: Damage and Repair Mechanisms in Humans

DNA contains mainly three components viz. Pentose Sugar, Nitrogen Base and Phosphate group. DNA determines the growth, development function and reproduction in living beings. It is mainly nucleic acid and proteins, lipids and carbohydrates too. These macromolecules are essential for living beings. It has two strands coiled around each other forming a doublehelix structure. Since, two strands are formed from monomer units called nucleotides, they are termed as polynucleotides. Nucleotide is aggregation of nitrogen bases such as Purines (A,G) and Pyrimidines (C,T,U), Deoxyribose sugar and Phosphate group [1-7].

2017·

33citations

·S. Ambekar

1 Determination of DNA Base Composition

DNA base composition can be determined using various methods, including mole percentage G+C values, to compare organisms and understand their genetic differences.

Highly Cited

1985·

70citations

·John L. Johnson

Impact of arsenic/phosphorus substitution on the intrinsic conformational properties of the phosphodiester backbone of DNA investigated using ab initio quantum mechanical calculations.

Arsenic substitution in DNA (As-DNA) may maintain similar conformational properties to phosphorus-based DNA, including maintaining base stacking, despite the absence of phosphorus.

2011·

23citations

·Elizabeth J. Denning et al.

How are small ions involved in the compaction of DNA molecules?

Small ions play a critical role in DNA compaction, affecting the folding transition and resulting single-chain morphologies.

2007·

30citations

·Takafumi Iwaki et al.

Determination of DNA base composition by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

DNA base composition can be determined directly and precisely using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, with a relative standard error of less than 1%.

Highly Cited

1984·

2496citations

·J. Tamaoka et al.

The information content of DNA.

DNA molecules with higher redundancy of optimum composition may have lower probability of error, potentially impacting oncogenicity and species specific selection of degenerate codons.

Highly Cited

1966·

81citations

·L. L. Gatlin

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