Gytis DNA molecule

Question

Describe the structure of a DNA molecule, including how individual constituents bind to each other along a length of DNA, and how two DNA strands interact with each other.

Answer 1

Hi Gytis,

The DNA structure is a double helix, which means two DNA strands will bind complementary to each other. The complimentary nature of DNA means that one strand runs 5' to 3' while the other runs 3' to 5'. This also means that the strands are antiparallel. There is more to this answer, however. The specific bases in both DNA strands must be a pair: GC and AT or AU. These bases bind because they can form hydrogen bonds with each other. If there is an incorrect base, such as AG, then there will be a kink in the DNA that allows replication machinery to fix the kink.

For example:

5;-GTACACT-3'

3'-CATGTGA-5'