Textbook Question
One strand of a fragment of duplex DNA has the sequence 5'-ATCGACCTGATC-3'.
Identify the bond that joins one strand of a DNA duplex to the other strand.
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Ch. 7 - DNA Structure and Replication
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - The Molecular Basis of Heredity, Variation, and Evolution64
- Ch. 2 - Transmission Genetics144
- Ch. 3 - Cell Division and Chromosome Heredity81
- Ch. 4 - Gene Interaction87
- Ch. 5 - Genetic Linkage and Mapping in Eukaryotes103
- Ch. 6 - Genetic Analysis and Mapping in Bacteria and Bacteriophages73
- Ch. 7 - DNA Structure and Replication71
- Ch. 8 - Molecular Biology of Transcription and RNA Processing79
- Ch. 9 - The Molecular Biology of Translation110
- Ch. 10 - Eukaryotic Chromosome Abnormalities and Molecular Organization100
- Ch. 11 - Gene Mutation, DNA Repair, and Homologous Recombination86
- Ch. 12 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Bacteria and Bacteriophage90
- Ch. 13 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes38
- Ch. 14 - Analysis of Gene Function via Forward Genetics and Reverse Genetics72
- Ch. 15 - Recombinant DNA Technology and Its Applications69
- Ch. 16 - Genomics: Genetics from a Whole-Genome Perspective49
- Ch. 17 - Organelle Inheritance and the Evolution of Organelle Genomes27
- Ch. 18 - Developmental Genetics43
- Ch. 19 - Genetic Analysis of Quantitative Traits66
- Ch. 20 - Population Genetics and Evolution at the Population, Species, and Molecular Levels105
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 7, Problem 5i
One strand of a fragment of duplex DNA has the sequence 5'-ATCGACCTGATC-3'.
What term is used to describe the polarity of two DNA strands in a duplex?
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The term used to describe the polarity of two DNA strands in a duplex is 'antiparallel'. This means that the two strands run in opposite directions relative to each other.
In a DNA duplex, one strand runs in the 5' to 3' direction, while the complementary strand runs in the 3' to 5' direction.
The 5' end of a DNA strand refers to the end with a free phosphate group attached to the 5' carbon of the sugar molecule, while the 3' end has a free hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to the 3' carbon of the sugar.
This antiparallel arrangement is crucial for the base pairing between the strands, as adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T) and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G) through hydrogen bonding.
Understanding the antiparallel nature of DNA is essential for processes like DNA replication, where enzymes like DNA polymerase synthesize new strands in the 5' to 3' direction.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
DNA Polarity
DNA strands have directionality, referred to as polarity, which is determined by the orientation of the sugar-phosphate backbone. Each strand has a 5' end, where a phosphate group is attached, and a 3' end, where a hydroxyl group is present. This polarity is crucial for processes like DNA replication and transcription, as enzymes can only add nucleotides to the 3' end of a growing strand.
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DNA Proofreading
Antiparallel Structure
In a duplex DNA molecule, the two strands run in opposite directions, a feature known as antiparallelism. This means that if one strand runs from 5' to 3', the complementary strand runs from 3' to 5'. This arrangement is essential for the base pairing between the strands and for the proper functioning of DNA-related processes.
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Complementary Base Pairing
DNA strands are held together by complementary base pairing, where adenine pairs with thymine (A-T) and cytosine pairs with guanine (C-G). This specificity in pairing is vital for maintaining the integrity of genetic information during replication and transcription. The antiparallel orientation of the strands facilitates this pairing, ensuring accurate genetic coding.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
One strand of a fragment of duplex DNA has the sequence 5'-ATCGACCTGATC-3'.
Is the bond in part (f) a covalent or a noncovalent bond?
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Textbook Question
One strand of a fragment of duplex DNA has the sequence 5'-ATCGACCTGATC-3'.
What term is used to describe the pattern of base pairing between one DNA strand and its partner in a duplex?
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Textbook Question
The principles of complementary base pairing and antiparallel polarity of nucleic acid strands in a duplex are universal for the formation of nucleic acid duplexes. What is the chemical basis for this universality?
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Textbook Question
For the following fragment of DNA, determine the number of hydrogen bonds and the number of phosphodiester bonds present:
5'-ACGTAGAGTGCTC-3'
3'-TGCATCTCACGAG-5'
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Textbook Question
The following figure (Figure 1.6) presents simplified depictions of nucleotides containing deoxyribose, a nucleotide base, and a phosphate group. Use this simplified method of representation to illustrate the sequence 3'-AGTCGAT-5' and its complementary partner in a DNA duplex.
What kind of bond joins the C to G within a single strand?
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