Discussion: DNA Double-Helical Structure

Discussion: DNA Double-Helical Structure
Discussion: DNA Double-Helical Structure
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Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are key macromolecules in the continuity of life. They carry the genetic blueprint of a cell and carry instructions for the functioning of the cell.
The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material found in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals.
The other type of nucleic acid, RNA, is mostly involved in protein synthesis. The DNA molecules never leave the nucleus but instead use an RNA intermediary to communicate with the rest of the cell. Other types of RNA are also involved in protein synthesis and its regulation.
DNA and RNA are made up of monomers known as nucleotides. The nucleotides combine with each other to form a polynucleotide, DNA or RNA. Each nucleotide is made up of three components: a nitrogenous base, a pentose (five-carbon) sugar, and a phosphate group (Figure 22). Each nitrogenous base in a nucleotide is attached to a sugar molecule, which is attached to a phosphate group.
DNA Double-Helical Structure
DNA has a double-helical structure (Figure 23). It is composed of two strands, or polymers, of nucleotides. The strands are formed with bonds between phosphate and sugar groups of adjacent nucleotides. The strands are bonded to each other at their bases with hydrogen bonds, and the strands coil about each other along their length, hence the “double helix” description, which means a double spiral.
The alternating sugar and phosphate groups lie on the outside of each strand, forming the backbone of the DNA. The nitrogenous bases are stacked in the interior, like the steps of a staircase, and these bases pair; the pairs are bound to each other by hydrogen bonds. The bases pair in such a way that the distance between the backbones of the two strands is the same all along the molecule.
Key Terms
acid a substance that donates hydrogen ions and therefore lowers pH
adhesion the attraction between water molecules and molecules of a different substance
amino acid a monomer of a protein
anion a negative ion formed by gaining electrons
atomic number the number of protons in an atom
base a substance that absorbs hydrogen ions and therefore raises pH
buffer a solution that resists a change in pH by absorbing or releasing hydrogen or hydroxide ions
carbohydrate a biological macromolecule in which the ratio of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen is 1:2:1; carbohydrates serve as energy sources and structural support in cells
cation a positive ion formed by losing electrons
cellulose a polysaccharide that makes up the cell walls of plants and provides structural support to the cell
chemical bond an interaction between two or more of the same or different elements that results in the formation of molecules
chitin a type of carbohydrate that forms the outer skeleton of arthropods, such as insects and crustaceans, and the cell walls of fungi
cohesion the intermolecular forces between water molecules caused by the polar nature of water; creates surface tension
covalent bond a type of strong bond between two or more of the same or different elements; forms when electrons are shared between elements
denaturation the loss of shape in a protein as a result of changes in temperature, pH, or exposure to chemicals
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) a double-stranded polymer of nucleotides that carries the hereditary information of the cell
disaccharide two sugar monomers that are linked together by a peptide bond
electron a negatively charged particle that resides outside of the nucleus in the electron orbital; lacks functional mass and has a charge of –1
electron transfer the movement of electrons from one element to another
element one of 118 unique substances that cannot be broken down into smaller substances and retain the characteristic of that substance; each element has a specified number of protons and unique properties
enzyme a catalyst in a biochemical reaction that is usually a complex or conjugated protein
evaporation the release of water molecules from liquid water to form water vapor
fat a lipid molecule composed of three fatty acids and a glycerol (triglyceride) that typically exists in a solid form at room temperature
glycogen a storage carbohydrate in animals
hormone a chemical signaling molecule, usually a protein or steroid, secreted by an endocrine gland or group of endocrine cells; acts to control or regulate specific physiological processes
hydrogen bond a weak bond between partially positively charged hydrogen atoms and partially negatively charged elements or molecules
hydrophilic describes a substance that dissolves in water; water-loving
hydrophobic describes a substance that does not dissolve in water; water-fearing
ion an atom or compound that does not contain equal numbers of protons and electrons and therefore has a net charge
ionic bond a chemical bond that forms between ions of opposite charges
isotope one or more forms of an element that have different numbers of neutrons
lipids a class of macromolecules that are nonpolar and insoluble in water
litmus paper filter paper that has been treated with a natural water-soluble dye so it can be used as a pH indicator
macromolecule a large molecule, often formed by polymerization of smaller monomers
mass number the number of protons plus neutrons in an atom
matter anything that has mass and occupies space
monosaccharide a single unit or monomer of carbohydrates
neutron a particle with no charge that resides in the nucleus of an atom; has a mass of 1
nonpolar covalent bond a type of covalent bond that forms between atoms when electrons are shared equally between atoms, resulting in no regions with partial charges as in polar covalent bonds
nucleic acid a biological macromolecule that carries the genetic information of a cell and carries instructions for the functioning of the cell
nucleotide a monomer of nucleic acids; contains a pentose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base
nucleus (chemistry) the dense center of an atom made up of protons and (except in the case of a hydrogen atom) neutrons
octet rule states that the outermost shell of an element with a low atomic number can hold eight electrons
oil an unsaturated fat that is a liquid at room temperature
periodic table of elements an organizational chart of elements, indicating the atomic number and mass number of each element; also provides key information about the properties of elements
pH scale a scale ranging from 0 to 14 that measures the approximate concentration of hydrogen ions of a substance
phospholipid a major constituent of the membranes of cells; composed of two fatty acids and a phosphate group attached to the glycerol backbone
polar covalent bond a type of covalent bond in which electrons are pulled toward one atom and away from another, resulting in slightly positive and slightly negative charged regions of the molecule
polypeptide a long chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds
polysaccharide a long chain of monosaccharides; may be branched or unbranched
protein a biological macromolecule composed of one or more chains of amino acids
proton a positively charged particle that resides in the nucleus of an atom; has a mass of 1 and a charge of +1
radioactive isotope an isotope that spontaneously emits particles or energy to form a more stable element
ribonucleic acid (RNA) a single-stranded polymer of nucleotides that is involved in protein synthesis
saturated fatty acid a long-chain hydrocarbon with single covalent bonds in the carbon chain; the number of hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon skeleton is maximized
solvent a substance capable of dissolving another substance
starch a storage carbohydrate in plants
steroid a type of lipid composed of four fused hydrocarbon rings
surface tension the cohesive force at the surface of a body of liquid that prevents the molecules from separating
temperature a measure of molecular motion
trans-fat a form of unsaturated fat with the hydrogen atoms neighboring the double bond across from each other rather than on the same side of the double bond
triglyceride a fat molecule; consists of three fatty acids linked to a glycerol molecule
unsaturated fatty acid a long-chain hydrocarbon that has one or more than one double bonds in the hydrocarbon chain
van der Waals interaction a weak attraction or interaction between molecules caused by slightly positively charged or slightly negatively charged atoms