Structure of DNA

Adenine and thymine base pair is formed by two hydrogen bonds between them and three hydrogen bonds are present between guanine and cytosine base pair.

The number of purine nitrogenous bases present in a DNA equals to the number of pyrimidine nitrogenous bases.
The number of adenine nitrogenous bases in a DNA equals to the number of thymine nitrogenous bases and the number of guanine nitrogenous bases equals to the number of cytosine nitrogenous bases. In the double helical DNA structure (dna structure worksheet) the sugar phosphate forms the backbone of the helix and the nitrogenous bases forms the stack of the helical ladder like structure of DNA.

Interesting facts about DNA

Each cell contains roughly 2 metres of DNA. Humans have roughly 100,000,000,000,000 (100 trillion cells). If you unravelled all of your DNA from all of your cells and laid out the DNA end to end, the strand would stretch from the Earth to the Sun hundreds of times (the sun is approximately 98 million miles away from Earth). A fast typist, working eight hours a day, would take 50 years to type out the human genome

Watson and Crick model of DNA

The structure of the DNA molecule and the arrangement of nitrogenous bases in the two polynucleotide chains, is very well explained by the double helix model proposed by Watson and Crick in 1953.

 According to the double helix model, DNA molecule shows the following salient features:
The two polynucleotide chains are coiled around each other like a spiral stair case (double helix).
The cross steps are formed by the nitrogen bases while phosphates and sugars form the uprights acting as backbone to DNA. The two polynucleotide chains run in opposite directions (antiparallel). One chain runs in the 3'-5' direction. While for the other chain is in 5-3 direction.

Function of DNA
It is the genetic material in all prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

It is capable of replication by which it can be faithfully

passed on to successive generations.

It is involved in the synthesis of RNA.

It provides the code for protein biosynthesis.

It is involved in mutations and genetic recombination,

which bring about variations.

Replication of DNA
The process of formation of two identical copies of DNA strand by a single DNA strand is known as replication. This process takes place prior to cell division so that while dividing the cell will have an additional copy of its DNA. The structure of DNA lends itself easily to DNA replication. Each side of the double helix runs in opposite (anti-parallel) directions. The advantage of the structure of DNA is that it can unzip down the middle and each side can serve as a pattern or template for the other side (called semi-conservative replication).

Replication of DNA

Stages of replication
Unwinding The two strands of DNA unwinds from its spiral structure. Special unwinding proteins attach to the DNA. The weak but numerous forces, called hydrogen bonds, that hold the base pairs together are further weakened until the base pairs separate and the strands can be pulled further and further apart. This creates a "Y"-shaped structure called a replication fork, and it is at this fork that the next stage in the replication process takes place.

Complementary base pairing Complementary pairing up of the nucleotide bases Each separate DNA strand now has its sequence of bases exposed and unpaired. Enzymes match up each one of these exposed bases, in turn, with free nucleotide triphosphates; A with T, and G with C.
It is therefore the sequence of bases on the old, original strand which dictates and specifies the complementary order of bases on the newly created strand.

Completing the joins

Other enzymes, called polymerases, link up the free, matched nucleotide triphosphates by removing the terminal di-phosphate and using energy so released to carry out the very non-spontaneous chemical reaction of joining the phosphate to the deoxyribose sugar. New DNA chains, therefore, can only "grow" or elongate in one direction

 Continuous and Discontinuous - At the replicating fork, one of the newly forming DNA strands grows and elongates continuously as more and more of the older, parental DNA molecule unwinds. This can continue indefinitely, or until the replication is complete. On the other strand as the replicating fork opens up, a small section of new DNA strand starts forming right in the fork and moves out away from the join. When it has elongated as far as it can, it stops. A new section is made behind it, and then another behind that. Later, the "nicks" or tiny gaps between these short sections are sealed up by other enzymes, called ligases, to make a complete and continuous daughter DNA molecule.