Textbook Question
Fill in the following table with the analogous nucleic acid structures:
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Ch.11 Nucleic Acids Big Molecules with a Big Role
Frost4th EditionGeneral, Organic and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134988696
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Table of contents
- Ch.4 Introduction to Organic Compounds75
- Ch.5 Chemical Reactions19
- Ch.6 Carbohydrates Life's Sweet Molecules62
- Ch.7 States of Matter and Their Attractive Forces8
- Ch.8 Solution Chemistry Sugar and Water Do Mix4
- Ch.10 Proteins Workers of the Cell89
- Ch.11 Nucleic Acids Big Molecules with a Big Role69
- Ch.12 Food as Fuel An Overview of Metabolism65
Frost4th EditionGeneral, Organic and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134988696Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 7, Problem 17
How are the two strands of nucleic acid in DNA held together?
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Identify the two strands of nucleic acid in DNA as polynucleotide chains composed of nucleotides.
Understand that each nucleotide consists of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
Recognize that the two strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between complementary nitrogenous bases.
Note that adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T) through two hydrogen bonds, and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G) through three hydrogen bonds.
Acknowledge that these hydrogen bonds create the double helix structure of DNA, providing stability and specificity in base pairing.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Base Pairing
Base pairing is the fundamental mechanism by which the two strands of DNA are held together. In DNA, adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G) through hydrogen bonds. This specific pairing ensures the stability of the double helix structure and allows for accurate replication and transcription of genetic information.
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Hydrogen Bonds
Hydrogen bonds are weak interactions that occur between the nitrogenous bases of the two DNA strands. Each base pair is connected by hydrogen bonds, with A-T pairs forming two hydrogen bonds and C-G pairs forming three. Although individually weak, the cumulative effect of many hydrogen bonds contributes significantly to the overall stability of the DNA molecule.
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Double Helix Structure
The double helix structure of DNA refers to its twisted ladder-like shape, formed by two long strands of nucleotides running in opposite directions. This configuration not only protects the genetic information but also facilitates the processes of replication and transcription. The helical shape is stabilized by the interactions between the base pairs and the sugar-phosphate backbone of the strands.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Describe the differences in the two ends of a nucleic acid.
Textbook Question
Write the base sequence and label the 3' and 5' ends of the complementary strand for a segment of DNA with the following base sequences:
d. 5'CGCGATATTA3'
Textbook Question
Write the base sequence and label the 3' and 5' ends of the complementary strand for a segment of DNA with the following base sequences:
b. 5'CCCCTTTT3'
Textbook Question
Describe the orientation of antiparallel strands in DNA. Use the terms 3' and 5' in your description.
Textbook Question
Draw the dinucleotide AT that would be found in DNA. Label the 5' and 3' ends of your structure. Identify the phosphodiester bond.