Understanding Pathophysiology, 6e
Understanding Pathophysiology, 6e
6th Edition
ISBN: 9780323354097
Author: Sue E. Huether RN PhD, Kathryn L. McCance RN PhD
Publisher: Elsevier Science
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Chapter 2.1, Problem 1QC
Summary Introduction

To determine: The major composition of DNA.

Concept introduction: Nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotide units. There are two types of nucleic acids namely deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). They contain heritable information and controls gene expression.

Expert Solution & Answer
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Explanation of Solution

A DNA molecule consists of two polynucleotide chains. It is a double helix structure. Each nucleotide structure is made up of a deoxyribose sugar, a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group. The bases link the two chains through hydrogen bonding. There are four nitrogenous bases such as Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), and Thymine (T). Adenine always pairs with thymine through two hydrogen bonds (A-T), and guanine always pairs with cytosine through three hydrogen bonds (G-C). The nucleotides are linked by phosphodiester bonds through 5ʹ-P of one sugar and 3ʹ-OH group of the next sugar. In a double-stranded DNA, one strand is “complemented” by the other. The polarity in DNA chain is referred to as 5ʹ end and the other as 3ʹ end. If one DNA strand runs in the 5ʹ—3ʹ direction, its complementary strand would run in the 3ʹ—5ʹ direction. The two strands are antiparallel to each other.

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