3.1.5.1 DNA structure

• DNA

  Deoxyribonucleic acid

  Found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and the cytoplasm in prokaryotic
• Eukaryotic v Prokaryotic DNA

  Eukaryotic is linear - Prokaryotic is circular

  Eukaryotic is longer - Prokaryotic is shorter

  Eukaryotic is associated with histone proteins - Prokaryotic is not associated with proteins
• DNA structure

  Double helix molecule, made of two polynucleotide chains held together by many hydrogen bonds. A DNA monomer is called a nucleotide.
• Nucleotides

  Bonded together to form a polymer called nucleic acid

  Sugar-phosphate backbone bonded by phosphodiester bonds

  Contain a deoxyribose sugar

  Specific complementary base pairs (containing hydrogen bonds): Adenine = Thymine and Guanine ≡ Cytosine