DNA Structure

A Winding Staircase
A DNA molecule is shaped like a spiral
staircase and is composed of two
parallel strands of linked subunits.
This spiral shape is known as a double
helix.
Each strand is made up of linked
subunits called nucleotides.

Parts of the Nucleotide

Each nucleotide is made up of three parts:
1. a phosphate group
2. a five-carbon sugar molecule (deoxyribose)
3. a nitrogen base.

The phosphate groups and the sugar molecules of

nucleotides link together to form a backbone for
a DNA strand.
The five-carbon sugar in DNA is called deoxyribose,
DNA gets its full name, deoxyribonucleic acid.
The bases of nucleotides pair together to connect
the two strands.

The DNA Structure

Nitrogenous Bases
In DNA, each nucleotide has the same
sugar molecule and phosphate group
The nucleotide can have one of four
nitrogenous bases. The four kinds of bases
are:
1.
2.
3.
4.

adenine (A)
guanine (G)
thymine (T)
cytosine (C).

Base-Pairing Rules
A nitrogen base on one strand of a DNA molecule is
always paired with a nitrogen base on the other strand.
More specifically
1. adenine always pairs with thymine (Apples on Trees)
2. guanine always pairs with cytosine. (Cars need Gas
(This means that A = T and C = G)
These base-pairing rules are dictated by the chemical
structure of the bases. The structure and size of the
nitrogenous bases allow for only these two pair
combinations.
The base pairs are held together by weak hydrogen
bonds. The hydrogen bonds between bases keep the
two strands of DNA together.