DNA

(Deoxyribonucleic acid)
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What is DNA?
DNA is a double-stranded molecule that is
twisted into a Helix (Spiraling Staircase)

DNA contains the information needed to form

and control the physical and chemical processes
of an organism.
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Each strand consists of:

A Sugar Phosphate Backbone

Four Nitrogenous bases

(Attached in pairs)

Adenine pairs with Thymine

Guanine pairs with Cytosine
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Structure of a nucleotide

Phosphate

Base

Deoxyribose sugar
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Let’s try this!

Write the complementary DNA strand for each
given strand of DNA.

1. CGTAAGCGCTAATTA
2. ACTAACGGTAGCTAGC
3. CGTTAGCATGCTTCAT
4. GGCATTCGCGATCATG
5. AATGAATAGCTAGCTT
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Key concepts
DNA is composed of chains of nucleotides built on a
sugar and phosphate backbone and wrapped around
each other in the form of a double helix. The
backbone supports four bases: guanine, cytosine,
adenine and thymine. Guanine and cytosine are
complementary, always appearing opposite each
other on the helix, as are adenine and thymine. This
is critical in the reproduction of the genetic material,
as it allows a strand to divide and copy itself, since it
only needs half of the material in the helix to
duplicate successfully.