DNA structure is a double helix formed by two complementary strands of nucleotides, which are held together by hydrogen bonds between paired bases. This structure allows for the storage of genetic information and enables accurate replication during cell division.

DNA Structure

DNA structure

The double helix is the structural configuration of DNA, consisting of two intertwined strands forming a spiral, which encodes genetic information through the sequence of nucleotides. This structure, discovered by Watson and Crick, allows for the replication and transmission of genetic information across generations, underpinning biological inheritance and evolution.

double helix

Complementary strands refer to the specific pairing of nucleotide bases in DNA, where adenine pairs with thymine and cytosine pairs with guanine, allowing for the double helix structure to form and enabling accurate replication and transcription. This precise pairing is crucial for the integrity of genetic information and the functioning of cellular processes.

complementary strands

Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, and play a crucial role in cellular processes by storing and transmitting genetic information. They consist of a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar, and one or more phosphate groups, forming the structural units of genetic material and participating in energy transfer and signaling within cells.

nucleotides

Hydrogen bonds are a type of weak chemical bond that forms when a hydrogen atom, already covalently bonded to a more electronegative atom like oxygen or nitrogen, experiences attraction to another electronegative atom within the vicinity. They play a crucial role in determining the structure and properties of water, proteins, and nucleic acids, thereby influencing numerous biological and chemical processes.

hydrogen bonds

paired bases

Genetic information refers to the data encoded in an organism's DNA that determines its biological characteristics and functions. It is the blueprint for life, influencing everything from physical traits to susceptibility to diseases, and is passed from one generation to the next through reproduction.

genetic information

accurate replication

Cell division is a fundamental biological process where a single cell divides into two or more daughter cells, essential for growth, development, and repair in multicellular organisms. This process occurs through two main types: mitosis, which results in identical daughter cells, and meiosis, which leads to the production of gametes with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell.

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