by Answerbag Staff on January 31st, 2010

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What is the DNA model?

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  • by Contributing Writer on January 31st, 2010

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    DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the genetic material in each cell. It contains instructions for producing proteins. The model of DNA incorporates the structure and the attractive forces between individual units of the molecule.

    Structure

    A DNA molecule consists of two strands of nucleotides that spiral around each other to form a helix. The strands are held together by weak thermodynamic forces.

    Nucleotide

    Each nucleotide consists of a sugar, a phosphate group and a nitrogen-containing base.

    Purines

    One type of nitrogen-containing base is the purine, which includes adenine and guanine. Purines are larger than pyrimidines.

    Pyrimidines

    The second type of nitrogen-containing base is the pyrimidine, which includes cytosine and thymine.

    Base Pairing

    The two strands of nucleotides bind together according to the attractions between the purines and pyrimidines. Adenine binds with thymine, and guanine binds with cytosine.

    Double Helix

    The bases of each nucleotide face the inside of the helix, while the sugar-phosphate groups form the outer structure of the molecule. The bases are stacked like steps of a spiral staircase, with the sugar-phosphate group resembling the railing of a spiral staircase.

    Source:

    University of Arizona Biology Learning Center: Introduction to DNA Structure

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