DNA structure

DNA

Chemical molecules found in every living organism that hold instructions for growth and development

Gene

A small section of DNA that controls a specific characteristic by coding for a specific protein

Polymer

A material such as DNA that is made of very large molecules that are composed of many smaller repeating subunits

Monomer

A small repeating unit of a polymer such as the nucleotides that make up a DNA polymer

Double helix

The structure of DNA where two strands of DNA wind around each other like a twisted ladder

Nucleotide

A small structural unit of DNA, composed of a common sugar and phosphate group with one of four different bases attached to the sugar

Base

A specific organic section of a nucleotide that contains nitrogen, there are four different types of bases in a DNA polymer

C, G, A and T

The letters that represent the four different types of bases found on a strand of DNA

Sugar in DNA

Also called deoxyribose sugar, the sugar joins with a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group to make a nucleotide

Phosphate group

Makes up the backbone of the DNA structure by joining with the sugar group in an alternating sequence

Sugar-phosphate backbone

An important structural component of the DNA strands, made up of alternating sugar and phosphate sections

Repeating nucleotides

The DNA polymer is made up of repeating nucleotide units with different arrangements of the bases C, G, A and T

Sequence of three bases

The code for an amino acid also called a codon or triplet, this arrangement of three bases leads to the formation of a specific amino acid

Amino acids

The building blocks of proteins, the sequence of amino acids determines the structure of the overall protein

Proteins

Building blocks of cells and tissues, made up of amino acids

Applications of proteins

Cell formation, enzymes, antibodies, haemoglobin, hormones, muscles, collagen in bones and connective tissue

Protein synthesis

Each gene codes for a particular sequence of amino acids which makes up a specific protein