The Structure of DNA

The Structure of DNA

The molecular structure of DNA allows it to carry and transfer information that controls the
physicaland behavioural characteristics of an organism.

Nucleotides

Nucleotides are nitrogen containing organic molecules. Each nucleotide contains:

A pentose (5C sugar)
One or more phosphate group
A nitrogen containing base which could…

Each base pair is 0.34 nmapart and there are 10 base pairsper turn of the helix . The
complementary base pairing can only occur if the two strands run antiparallel to each other.
Therefore the sequence of one strand determines the sequence of the other .