DNA Structure Diagram
To illustrate the structure of DNA, imagine a double helix shape, resembling a twisted ladder. The sides of this ladder are made up of sugar and phosphate groups, while the rungs consist of nitrogenous bases.
Labels:
- 5′ and 3′: These markings indicate the directionality of the DNA strands. The 5′ end has a phosphate group, while the 3′ end has a hydroxyl group.
- Deoxyribose: This is the sugar component that makes up the backbone of the DNA.
- Pyrimidine: Refers to the nitrogenous bases thymine (T) and cytosine (C).
- Purine: Refers to the nitrogenous bases adenine (A) and guanine (G).
- Adenine (A): This purine pairs with thymine (T).
- Thymine (T): This pyrimidine pairs with adenine (A).
- Guanine (G): This purine pairs with cytosine (C).
- Cytosine (C): This pyrimidine pairs with guanine (G).
- Phosphodiester bond: This bond connects the sugar of one nucleotide with the phosphate group of the next nucleotide in the DNA strand.
- Hydrogen bond: These weak bonds hold the base pairs together, connecting adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine.
When drawing the diagram, make sure to align adenine opposite thymine, and guanine opposite cytosine. Indicate the bonds accordingly to showcase how these components intertwine to form the familiar double helix structure of DNA.