Backbone of DNA
sugar and phosphate
The backbone of DNA is made up of sugar and phosphate molecules, which alternate to form a long chain. The sugar component of the backbone is called deoxyribose, which provides the name for DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and the phosphate group is a phosphoric acid molecule. The sugar and phosphate molecules connect via phosphodiester bonds, which form between the 3′ carbon of one sugar molecule and the 5′ carbon of the next sugar molecule in the sequence. This creates a repeating pattern of sugar-phosphate-sugar-phosphate that forms the backbone of the double-stranded DNA molecule. The nitrogenous bases (adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine) attach to the sugar molecules, protruding inward towards each other and forming the “rungs” of the DNA ladder. The specific sequence of nitrogenous bases along the DNA strand determines the genetic information stored within the DNA molecule and is the basis for genetic coding and inheritance.
More Answers:
Understanding the Role of Hydrogen Bonds in DNA: How Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, and Cytosine Hold the Double Helix TogetherUnderstanding the Significance of Cytosine-Guanine Base Pairing in DNA and RNA
Understanding Complementary Base Pairing: The Key to DNA’s Genetic Code