Manipulating Genomes

DNA structure and replication Nucleotides Made up of three components: phosphate group, pentose suga and a nitrogenous base. There are four possible bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine. Cytosine and thymine are pyrimadines Adenime and guanine are purines. There is a phosphodiester bond between the phosphate group and the pentose sugar. Polynucleotide The polynucleotide has a phosphate and sugar back bone. The nucleotides join in a condensation reaction where a phosphodiester bond forms between the sugar on the first nucleotide and the phosphate group on the next nucleotide.  Double helix formation DNA has a double helix structure. DNA stands for deoxyribose nucleic acid. A polynucleotide forms in a condensation reaction by the pentode sugar and the next phosphate group joining with a phosphodiester bond. Another polynucleotide runs in the opposite direction (antiparallel). The complementary bases line up and two hydrogen bonds form between A and T, and three hydrogen bonds form between G and C. Because the chains are antiparallel and the bases are different sizes, the chains twist, forming a helix. Thymine and cytosine are pyrimidines, and adenine and guanine are purines. Replication of DNA It is a semi conservative process. DNA polymerase brings bases together and hydrogen bonds form. DNA ligament sticks the back bone together. DNA helicase unzips the strand.