Learn the basics about Deoxyribunucliec Acid :)

1. DNATHE GENETIC MATERIAL

2. DNA is a macromolecule that forms a
double helix structure in the
cells(mostly in the nuclei and
mitochondria) of living organism. The
DNA molecule is considered the
genetic material of all living cells. It is
present in all organisms inhibiting life.
It is responsible for determining the
specific characteristics of an
organism.

3. DNA was first observed by a
German biochemist named
Frederich Miescher in 1869.
But for many years,
researchers did not realize the
importance of this molecule.

4. Many people believe that American biologist
James Watson and English physicist Francis
Crick discovered DNA in the 1950s.
Because of the three-dimensional shape of
the structure they discovered, DNA has
come to be described as a "double helix." A
helix is a spiral shape, like a slinky or the
hand rail of a spiral staircase

5. DNA is made up of molecules called
nucleotides
Each nucleotide contains a phosphate
group, a sugar group and a nitrogen
base
The four types of nitrogen bases are
adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine
(G) and cytosine (C)

6. The sugars found in nucleic acids are
pentose sugars; a pentose sugar has
five carbon atoms.
Deoxyribose, found in DNA, is a
modified sugar, lacking one oxygen
atom (hence the name "deoxy").
The entire human genome contains
about3 billion bases and about
20,000 genes.

7. .The single-ring nitrogenous bases, thymine
and cytosine, are called pyrimidines, and
the double-ring bases, adenine and
guanine, are called purines.
Cbonds with G and A bonds with T. It's
called complementary base pairing because
each base can only bond with a specific
base partner. C will only bond
with G and A will only bond with T in
DNA. Because of complementary base
pairing, the hydrogen-bonded nitrogenous
bases are often referred to as base pairs.