DNA

DNA Structure
 Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a
polynucleotide (a molecule composed of a
chain of nucleotides).

 Each nucleotide consists of:

– a nitrogen base (adenine, thymine,
guanine, or cytosine)
– a sugar (deoxyribose)
– a phosphate group
 A molecule of DNA is composed of two
polynucleotide chains held together by
Hydrogen bonds between the bases.
Phosphodiester (covalent) bonds hold each
sugar to the phosphate of the adjacent
nucleotide.

 In DNA, adenine always bonds with thymine

with 2 H bonds, and cytosine always bonds to
guanine with 3 H bonds.
The Orientation of the two chains is Opposite, to
account for the Hydrogen bonding of Oxygen and
Hydrogen atoms, respectively.
 James Watson and Francis Crick discovered
the structure of DNA in 1953
 They won the Nobel prize with Maurice
Wilkins in 1962
 Rosalind Franklin’s work in x-ray
crystallography was critical in revealing the
structure of the DNA molecule.

 The "cross" formed of dark spots indicated

that the molecule had a helical structure.
 DNA has coding regions known as genes
that determine the characteristics of an
organism.
 An alteration in the DNA sequence is known
as a mutation.

 Mutations may be caused by chemical

agents, ultraviolet radiation, or natural causes
(e.g. viruses).
 Mutations can also occur during the process
of DNA replication.
 DNA Replication
 The structure of DNA allows it to be easily
replicated (copied).

 The DNA molecule “unzips” and each side

serves as a template.

 On each half of the molecule, a new

complementary half is built.

 The two new DNA molecules are identical to

each other.