THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF DNA

DNA
- A DNA molecule consists of two long polynucleotide chains composed of four types of nucleotide
subunits. Each of the chain is known as a DNA chain or DNA strand. Hydrogen bonds between the bse
portion of the nucleotide

POLYNUCLEOTIDE
- are linear bipolymers that are composed of several nucleotide monomers with covalent bonds in a
chain. Each strand of a polynucleotide consists of an alternative sugar and phospate group

HYDROGEN BONDED BASE PAIRS

- the hydrogen bonding between complementary bases holds the two strands of DNA together

DNA is made up of four building blocks called nucleotides

The bases may either be ADENINE (A), GUANINE (G), CYTOSINE ©, or THYMINE (T)

ADENINE (A)
- a compound which is one of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids. A purine derivative, it is
paired with thymine in double-stranded DNA.
- In humans, there is approximately 30% adenine.
- is said to be one of the most essential organic molecules for life.

GUANINE (G)
- is one of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids. A purine derivative, it is paired with cytosine in
double-stranded DNA.
- Guanine contains amine and ketone, functional groups.
- It is a type of purine.

CYTOSINE
- Cytosine plays an essential role in forming base pairs by bonding with guanine and forming the
genetic code found in both DNA and RNA.
- cytosine is full of nitrogen atoms (it has three). It also has one ring of carbon, which makes it a
pyrimidine. A purine, on the other hand, has two rings of carbon.

THYMINE
- A chemical compound that is used to make one of the building blocks of DNA. It is a type of
pyrimidine.
- DNA uses this because thymine has a higher resistance to photochemical mutation and makes the
genetic code more durable.
- this is required to store all the data for life to function
- DNA uses thymine instead of uracil