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Structure and Function of DNA definitions

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  • Nucleotide
    Building block containing a sugar, phosphate group, and one of four nitrogenous bases; forms the basic unit of genetic material.
  • Adenine
    Purine base with two carbon rings; pairs with thymine via two hydrogen bonds in genetic material.
  • Cytosine
    Pyrimidine base with one carbon ring; forms three hydrogen bonds with guanine in double-stranded genetic material.
  • Guanine
    Purine base with two carbon rings; establishes three hydrogen bonds with cytosine in the double helix.
  • Thymine
    Pyrimidine base with one carbon ring; connects to adenine through two hydrogen bonds in genetic strands.
  • Purine
    Nitrogenous base category with two carbon rings; includes adenine and guanine.
  • Pyrimidine
    Nitrogenous base category with a single carbon ring; includes cytosine and thymine.
  • Base Pair
    Two nitrogenous bases joined by hydrogen bonds, forming the rungs of the double helix.
  • Hydrogen Bond
    Weak interaction stabilizing base pairs; two connect adenine-thymine, three connect guanine-cytosine.
  • Sugar-Phosphate Backbone
    Structural framework of genetic strands, formed by alternating sugars and phosphate groups.
  • Directionality
    Orientation of a genetic strand, defined by 5' phosphate and 3' hydroxyl ends, crucial for strand pairing.
  • Double Helix
    Energetically favorable structure with two antiparallel strands and complementary base pairing.
  • Antiparallel
    Arrangement where two strands run in opposite directions, enabling proper base pairing.
  • Major Groove
    Wider region in the double helix, providing access for protein interactions.
  • B-DNA
    Most common right-handed double helix form, featuring 10 base pairs per helical turn.