A sugar-phosphate backbone (alternating grey-dark grey) joins together nucleotides in a DNA sequence. The sugar-phosphate backbone forms the structural framework of nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA. This backbone is composed of alternating sugar and phosphate groups, and defines directionality of the molecule..
Subsequently, one may also ask, what makes up the backbone of DNA?
It has an alternating chemical phosphate and sugar backbone, making the 'sides' of the ladder. (Deoxyribose is the name of the sugar found in the backbone of DNA.) In between the two sides of this sugar-phosphate backbone are four nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).
Likewise, what bonds make up the backbone of DNA? The sugar and phosphate group make up the backbone of the DNA double helix, while the bases are located in the middle. A chemical bond between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the sugar of a neighboring nucleotide holds the backbone together.
People also ask, what five elements are primarily responsible for the makeup of DNA and RNA?
The phosphate groups allow the nucleotides to link together, creating the sugar-phosphate backbone of the nucleic acid while the nitrogenous bases provide the letters of the genetic alphabet. These components of nucleic acids are constructed from five elements: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorous.
What are the components of the DNA and RNA?
DNA is a long polymer with deoxyriboses and phosphate backbone. Having four different nitrogenous bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine. RNA is a polymer with a ribose and phosphate backbone. Four different nitrogenous bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil.
Related Question Answers
What is the main function of nucleic acids?
The functions of nucleic acids have to do with the storage and expression of genetic information. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) encodes the information the cell needs to make proteins. A related type of nucleic acid, called ribonucleic acid (RNA), comes in different molecular forms that participate in protein synthesis.What 3 things make up a nucleotide?
A nucleotide consists of three things: A nitrogenous base, which can be either adenine, guanine, cytosine, or thymine (in the case of RNA, thymine is replaced by uracil). A five-carbon sugar, called deoxyribose because it is lacking an oxygen group on one of its carbons. One or more phosphate groups.Why is DNA so important?
DNA is vital for all living beings – even plants. It is important for inheritance, coding for proteins and the genetic instruction guide for life and its processes. DNA holds the instructions for an organism's or each cell's development and reproduction and ultimately death.Who discovered DNA first?
Many people believe that American biologist James Watson and English physicist Francis Crick discovered DNA in the 1950s. In reality, this is not the case. Rather, DNA was first identified in the late 1860s by Swiss chemist Friedrich Miescher.What sugar is found in RNA?
ribose
Why is the backbone of DNA important?
The sugar-phosphate backbone, as mentioned, is an important component of DNA's double helix structure. The structure of DNA is tied to its function. The pairing of the nitrogenous bases that are connected to the sugar-phosphate backbone play a key role in the ability of DNA to store and transfer genetic information.Where is DNA located?
Nearly every cell in a person's body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).What does 5 and 3 mean in DNA?
The 5' and 3' mean "five prime" and "three prime", which indicate the carbon numbers in the DNA's sugar backbone. The 5' carbon has a phosphate group attached to it and the 3' carbon a hydroxyl (-OH) group. This asymmetry gives a DNA strand a "direction".What is RNA composed of?
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a linear molecule composed of four types of smaller molecules called ribonucleotide bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U).Is DNA a protein?
Today, proteins are formed following instructions given by DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) which in turn is synthesized by specific enzymes that are proteins. DNA contains the genetic information of all living organisms. Proteins are large molecules made up by 20 small molecules called amino acids.What are the properties of nucleic acids?
Basic structure Nucleic acids are polynucleotides—that is, long chainlike molecules composed of a series of nearly identical building blocks called nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogen-containing aromatic base attached to a pentose (five-carbon) sugar, which is in turn attached to a phosphate group.What are the classification of nucleic acids?
Nucleic acids are one of four classes of biochemical compounds. (The other three classes are carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.) Nucleic acids include RNA (ribonucleic acid) as well as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Both types of nucleic acids contain the elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.Which molecule is found in both DNA and RNA?
The purines adenine (A) and guanine (G) and the pyrimidine cytosine (C) are present in both DNA and RNA.What is the primary structure of RNA?
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is typically single stranded and contains ribose as its pentose sugar and the pyrimidine uracil instead of thymine. An RNA strand can undergo significant intramolecular base pairing to take on a three-dimensional structure. There are three main types of RNA, all involved in protein synthesis.What are the three main parts of an RNA nucleotide?
Like DNA, RNA polymers are make up of chains of nucleotides *. These nucleotides have three parts: 1) a five carbon ribose sugar, 2) a phosphate molecule and 3) one of four nitrogenous bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine or uracil.What elements are found in lipids?
All lipids contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Some of them also contain nitrogen and phosphorus. The four main classes of lipids are fats, waxes, sterols, and phospholipids.What is the backbone of RNA?
The sugar-phosphate backbone forms the structural framework of nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA. This backbone is composed of alternating sugar and phosphate groups, and defines directionality of the molecule. The sugar is the 3' end, and the phosphate is the 5' end of each nucleiotide.Is DNA a strong or weak acid?
Yes, DNA is a weak acid, an organic and very weak acid, but it does exist in the cell as a salt, like other acids. Two strong acids, nitric acid (HNO3) and hydrochloric acid (HCL), are mixed to form "Aqua Regia", a chemical used for melting gold.Where do nitrogenous bases come from?
Strands of DNA are made of the sugar and phosphate portions of the nucleotides, while the middle parts are made of the nitrogenous bases. The nitrogenous bases on the two strands of DNA pair up, purine with pyrimidine (A with T, G with C), and are held together by weak hydrogen bonds. 
