The first thing that you should know, and probably the most basic is that DNA is in the shape of a Double Helix.
It is however much more complex than it looks. DNA is made of 2 long polymers called Nucleotides. The two vertical strands that you see making the shape of the double helix is like the backbone of the DNA. It's Sugars and Phosphate holding the rest of the DNA together. Then you have the Middle portions of the DNA. In the picture above you can see that the DNA almost makes a latter with the red and blue connecting in the middle all the way up and down the DNA. The red and blue parts of the DNA that connect are actually hydrogenous bases, and are being held together by a weak Hydrogen Bond. The bases in the DNA are important because the sequence of bases in your DNA, defines the RNA sequence which then defines your Protein sequence, and that makes up your genetic code. Your genetic code gives you your physical traits. DNA is found in cells, and when cells divide, they have to give a copy of the DNA to each cell so the DNA goes through a process called replication. The DNA is split down the middle and the hydrogen bond is broken. Then half of the DNA goes to each of the new cells. Then replication takes place, and the other half of the strand of DNA is remade with an enzyme called, DNA polymerase. That's how the process of replication takes place.
It is however much more complex than it looks. DNA is made of 2 long polymers called Nucleotides. The two vertical strands that you see making the shape of the double helix is like the backbone of the DNA. It's Sugars and Phosphate holding the rest of the DNA together. Then you have the Middle portions of the DNA. In the picture above you can see that the DNA almost makes a latter with the red and blue connecting in the middle all the way up and down the DNA. The red and blue parts of the DNA that connect are actually hydrogenous bases, and are being held together by a weak Hydrogen Bond. The bases in the DNA are important because the sequence of bases in your DNA, defines the RNA sequence which then defines your Protein sequence, and that makes up your genetic code. Your genetic code gives you your physical traits. DNA is found in cells, and when cells divide, they have to give a copy of the DNA to each cell so the DNA goes through a process called replication. The DNA is split down the middle and the hydrogen bond is broken. Then half of the DNA goes to each of the new cells. Then replication takes place, and the other half of the strand of DNA is remade with an enzyme called, DNA polymerase. That's how the process of replication takes place.
No comments:
Post a Comment