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The structure of DNA is a double helix. In other words, it is a double stranded molecule that twists like a spiral staircase.
- How is DNA double helix similar to a spiral staircase?
- What makes up the handrails of a DNA molecule?
- What forms the handrails of the DNA backbone?
- What was revealed by the photograph that enabled Watson and Crick to build their model of the DNA molecule?
- Why is DNA a spiral?
- Why is the unique structure of DNA important?
- How or why does DNA form a twisted ladder or spiral staircase in appearance?
- What's a DNA molecule?
- What is the spiral of nucleotides in the structure of DNA quizlet?
- Why is the DNA molecule compared with a twisted ladder?
- What are the sides of a DNA molecule called?
- How do Watson and Crick described DNA structure?
- What facts about DNA does the Watson-Crick model explain?
- What is DNA explain the Watson and Crick model of DNA?
- What is the spiral shape?
- How do scientists know what DNA looks like?
- What does the shape of DNA resemble?
How is DNA double helix similar to a spiral staircase?
The DNA double helix is similar to a spiral staircase: the sugar-phosphate backbone is like the twisting handrails of the staircase, and the nitrogen-containing bases are like the steps that connect the railings to each other.
What makes up the handrails of a DNA molecule?
The rails of the DNA strand are made up of deoxyribose (a sugar) and phosphoric acid. ... The rungs of the DNA strand are made up of organic bases. These organic bases attach to the deoxyribose on the ladder rails. The four bases that make up DNA are Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine.
What forms the handrails of the DNA backbone?
The handrails are a phosphate deoxyribose backbone: sugars bonded by phosphate. The 2-deoxyribose sugar is a pentose, a 5-Carbon sugar. The sugars are joined by phosphate bonds form between the 3rd and 5th Carbon atoms of the sugar rings.
What was revealed by the photograph that enabled Watson and Crick to build their model of the DNA molecule?
Taken in 1952, this image is the first X-ray picture of DNA, which led to the discovery of its molecular structure by Watson and Crick. Created by Rosalind Franklin using a technique called X-ray crystallography, it revealed the helical shape of the DNA molecule.
Why is DNA a spiral?
The twisting aspect of DNA is a result of interactions between the molecules that make up DNA and water. ... In order to further prevent the nitrogenous bases from coming into contact with cell fluid, the molecule twists to reduce space between the nitrogenous bases and the phosphate and sugar strands.
Why is the unique structure of DNA important?
DNA's unique structure enables the molecule to copy itself during cell division. When a cell prepares to divide, the DNA helix splits down the middle and becomes two single strands. These single strands serve as templates for building two new, double-stranded DNA molecules - each a replica of the original DNA molecule.
How or why does DNA form a twisted ladder or spiral staircase in appearance?
They showed that alternating deoxyribose and phosphate molecules form the twisted uprights of the DNA ladder. The rungs of the ladder are formed by complementary pairs of nitrogen bases — A always paired with T and G always paired with C.
What's a DNA molecule?
DNA is the chemical name for the molecule that carries genetic instructions in all living things. The DNA molecule consists of two strands that wind around one another to form a shape known as a double helix. Each strand has a backbone made of alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups.
What is the spiral of nucleotides in the structure of DNA quizlet?
DNA had two sides, or strands, and that these strands were twisted together like a twisted ladder -- the double helix. The sides of the ladder comprise the sugar-phosphate portions of adjacent nucleotides bonded together.
Why is the DNA molecule compared with a twisted ladder?
Why is a DNA molecule compared to a twisted ladder? There are two sides, the sugar- phosphate backbones of the two strands and rungs. Therefore, it is often referred to a twisted ladder.
What are the sides of a DNA molecule called?
It has an alternating chemical phosphate and sugar backbone, making the 'sides' of the ladder. (Deoxyribose is the name of the sugar found in the backbone of DNA.) In between the two sides of this sugar-phosphate backbone are four nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).
How do Watson and Crick described DNA structure?
In 1953 James Watson and Francis Crick published their theory that DNA must be shaped like a double helix. A double helix resembles a twisted ladder. Each 'upright' pole of the ladder is formed from a backbone of alternating sugar and phosphate groups.
What facts about DNA does the Watson-Crick model explain?
In Watson and Crick's model, the two strands of the DNA double helix are held together by hydrogen bonds between nitrogenous bases on opposite strands. Each pair of bases lies flat, forming a "rung" on the ladder of the DNA molecule. Base pairs aren't made up of just any combination of bases.
What is DNA explain the Watson and Crick model of DNA?
The following points explain the model of DNA as proposed by Watson and Crick: 1. DNA is made up of double helix made up of polynucleotide chains that are coiled with each other in a right-handed fashion. 2. The two strands are anti-parallel to each other.
What is the spiral shape?
A spiral is a coil or curl, like the shape of a piece of hair wound around your finger, a Slinky toy, or a corkscrew. A curve forming a series of circles that become gradually larger or smaller is one kind of spiral.
How do scientists know what DNA looks like?
The best way to visualise an individual helix is to create a model based on indirect images, from X-ray crystallography or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The resulting images are not a true image of one single piece of DNA, but an average of several molecules.
What does the shape of DNA resemble?
The shape of DNA resembles that of a spiral staircase. In this double helical shape, the sides of the staircase are formed by strands of deoxyribose sugar and phosphate molecules. The stair steps are formed by the nitrogenous bases.
