What makes up dna

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Understanding the Composition of DNA

DNA Structure: Deoxyribose Sugar and Nucleotide Chains

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions essential for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses. The structure of DNA is composed of two long chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix. Each nucleotide consists of three components: a phosphate group, a deoxyribose sugar, and a nitrogenous base 12.

Nitrogenous Bases: A, T, C, and G

The nitrogenous bases in DNA are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). These bases pair specifically (A with T and C with G) through hydrogen bonds, forming the rungs of the DNA double helix ladder. This base pairing is crucial for the DNA's ability to store genetic information and for the replication process 23.

DNA Backbone: Sugar-Phosphate Structure

The backbone of the DNA molecule is formed by alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups. This sugar-phosphate backbone is located on the outside of the double helix, providing structural stability and protection for the genetic information encoded within the nitrogenous bases .

Double Helix: Antiparallel Strands

The DNA double helix consists of two antiparallel strands, meaning they run in opposite directions. This antiparallel orientation is essential for the replication and transcription processes, as it allows the enzymes involved to interact with the DNA strands in a specific manner .

Genetic Information: Sequence of Nucleotides

The sequence of nucleotides along a DNA strand encodes genetic information. This sequence is read in sets of three nucleotides, known as codons, each of which specifies a particular amino acid. The order of these amino acids determines the structure and function of proteins, which are essential for all cellular processes .

Stability and Function: Hydrogen Bonds and Base Stacking

The stability of the DNA double helix is maintained by hydrogen bonds between complementary bases and by base stacking interactions. Base stacking refers to the attractive forces between adjacent bases in the same strand, which contribute to the overall stability of the DNA molecule .

Conclusion

In summary, DNA is a complex molecule composed of a sugar-phosphate backbone and four types of nitrogenous bases. Its double helix structure, stabilized by hydrogen bonds and base stacking, allows it to store and transmit genetic information efficiently. Understanding the composition and structure of DNA is fundamental to the fields of genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnology.

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Most relevant research papers on this topic

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.

DNA Structure and Function

DNA is a stable molecule that plays a crucial role in cells as the source of genetic information, with hydrogen bonds providing specificity and base stacking providing stability.

Highly Cited

1994·

206citations

Biophysics of the DNA molecule

DNA plays a crucial role in all living organisms because it is the key molecule responsible for storage, duplication, and realization of genetic information. DNA is a heteropolymeric molecule consisting of residues (nucleotides) of four types, A, T, C and G. Fig. 1 shows the chemical structure of the DNA single strand and the complementary base pairs. The genetic message is “written down” in the form of continuous text consisting of four letters (DNA nucleotides A, G, T and C). This continuous text, however, is subdivided, in its biological meaning, into sections. The most significant sections are genes, parts of DNA, which carry information about the sequence of amino acids in proteins. The importance of the DNA molecule cannot be overestimated. It is therefore natural that the molecule has been attracting attention not only of biologists and physicians but also of chemists and physicists, even theorists (for a popular introduction into the field of DNA science, see, e.g., Frank-Kamenetskii, 1993; 1997). For more than forty years already, the DNA molecule has been a subject of biophysical studies. Many outstanding physicists, who made their names in various areas of traditional physics, mostly in solid state physics, contributed by studying DNA. I.M. Lifshitz did not publish many papers about DNA. Nevertheless, his role in directing attention of physicists toward DNA biophysics was very significant, especially in the USSR. Although I had been already in the field when Lifshitz stormed it in mid-1960s I also experienced profound influence of his personality and style. Due to his enthusiasm and indisputable reputation among Soviet physicists, DNA and protein biophysics temporarily became a focus of attention of the Soviet physics community. This community was a unique phenomenon in the world of science. Due to I.M. Lifshitz, I had an opportunity to present my work on DNA topology at the famous

Highly Cited

1997·

101citations

·M. Frank-Kamenetskii

Engineering DNA-based functional materials.

DNA-based functional materials show promise for nanotechnology, medicine, and biotechnology due to their engineering methods and potential real-world applications.

Highly Cited

2011·

227citations

·Y. Roh et al.

Discovering genes are made of DNA

Maclyn McCarty, the sole surviving member of the team that discovered DNA as the material of inheritance in 1944, recalls the times and the impact of the double helix on modern genetics.

2003·

27citations

·M. Mccarty

A DNA-fuelled molecular machine made of DNA

A DNA machine, shaped like a pair of tweezers, can be used as both a structural material and as 'fuel', enabling nanoscale construction and active devices.

Highly Cited

2000·

2059citations

·B. Yurke et al.

Folding DNA to create nanoscale shapes and patterns

Folding DNA into arbitrary two-dimensional shapes and patterns allows for the creation of complex nanostructures with high complexity and resolution.

Highly Cited

2006·

6282citations

·P. Rothemund

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.

Building machines with DNA molecules

DNA nanostructures show potential for creating machine-like structures that can be actuated and move, offering potential as scientific tools for biology, chemistry, and engineering challenges.

Highly Cited

2019·

197citations

·H. Ramézani et al.

DNA materials: bridging nanotechnology and biotechnology.

DNA materials bridge the gap between nanotechnology and biotechnology, offering potential for diverse real-world applications in diagnostics, protein production, controlled drug release systems, and plasmonics.

Highly Cited

2014·

228citations

·Dayong Yang et al.

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