DNA nitrogenous bases
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule found in the cells of all living organisms
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule found in the cells of all living organisms. It contains the genetic instructions that determine the characteristics of an organism and is responsible for passing on hereditary information from one generation to the next.
DNA is composed of smaller units called nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of three main components: a sugar molecule called deoxyribose, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. There are four different nitrogenous bases that make up DNA: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).
Adenine (A) forms a bond with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) forms a bond with guanine (G). This pairing is known as complementary base pairing and forms the basis of the DNA double helix structure. This means that in a DNA molecule, the amount of adenine is equal to the amount of thymine, and the amount of cytosine is equal to the amount of guanine.
The sequence of these nitrogenous bases along the DNA molecule is what encodes the genetic information. Each sequence of three bases, known as a codon, codes for a specific amino acid, which are the building blocks of proteins. The order and combination of these amino acids determine the structure and function of proteins in the body.
The discovery of the structure of DNA and the understanding of its nitrogenous bases were significant milestones in the field of genetics and have revolutionized our understanding of heredity, evolution, and biological processes.
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