--%>

Structure of a DNA molecule

Elaborate the structure of a DNA molecule?

E

Expert

Verified

The molecule of a DNA is double-stranded. The molecule takes the shape of a double helix.
The DNA molecule has two complementary strands oriented in an anti-parallel fashion. All strand is made up of nucleotides. A nucleotide has a base (a purine or pyrimidine), a sugar (between the other two components) called deoxyribose, and a phosphate group. Nucleotides are connected to each other with phosphodiester bonds, creating a sugar-phosphate backbone to each strand.
Base of each nucleotide projects into an interior cavity of helix. Every base is opposite other base: adenine (a purine) is every time paired with the thymine (a pyrimidine), and the guanine (purine) with the cytosine (pyrimidine); this phenomenon is known as complementary base pairing.
Every nucleotide forms hydrogen bonds with its complementary base on another strand. Two hydrogen bonds form among adenine and thymine; three hydrogen bonds form between guanine and cytosine.

   Related Questions in Chemistry

  • Q : Calculating density of water using

    What is the percent error in calculating the density of water using the ideal gas law for the following conditions:  a. 110 oC, 1 bar   b. 210 oC 10 bar  c. 374 o

  • Q : Problem based on molecular weight

    Select the right answer of the question. Molecular weight of urea is 60. A solution of urea containing 6g urea in one litre is : (a)1 molar (b)1.5 molar (c) 0.1 molar (d) 0.01 molar

  • Q : What is ortho effect? Orthosubstituted

    Orthosubstituted anilines are generally weaker bases than aniline irrespective of the electron releasing or electron withdrawing nature of the substituent. This is known as ortho effect and may probably be due to combined electronic and steric factors.The overall basic strength of ort

  • Q : Molar concentration Choose the right

    Choose the right answer from following. Molar concentration (M) of any solution : a) No. of moles of solute/Volume of solution in litre (b) No. of gram equivalent of solute / volume of solution in litre (c) No. of moles os solute/ Mass of solvent in kg  (

  • Q : What are biodegradable polymers?

      These are polymers that can be broken into small segments by enzyme-catalysed reactions. The required enzymes are produced by microorganism. It is a known fact that the carbon-carbon bonds of chain growth polymers are inert to enzyme-catalysed reactions, and hence they are non biod

  • Q : P- block why pentahalids are more

    why pentahalids are more covalent than tetrahalids

  • Q : What are isotonic and hypotonic

    The two solutions which are having equivalent osmotic pressure are called isotonic solutions. The isotonic solutions at the same temperature also have same molar concentration. If we have solutions having different osmotic pressures then the solution having different

  • Q : Problem on decomposition reaction

    Nitrogen tetroxide (melting point: -11.2°C, normal boiling point 21.15°C) decomposes into nitrogen dioxide according to the following reaction: N2O4(g) ↔ 2 NO2(g)<

  • Q : Ionization Potential Second ionization

    Second ionization potential of Li, Be and B is in the order (a)Li>Be>B (b)Li>B>Be (c)Be>Li>B (d)B>Be>Li

  • Q : Modes of concentration Which of the

    Which of the given modes of expressing concentration is fully independent of temperature: (1) Molarity (2) Molality (3) Formality (4) Normality Choose the right answer from above.