Watson and Crick gave the secondary structure of a Nucleic Acid which functions as genetic material in living organisms. 1) Name the nucleic acid. 2) Draw its secondary structure 3) Label the phosphodiester bond in the structure
Answers
2
Ans.
1). Watson and Crick discovered double-helical structure of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that functions as genetic material as all living organisms. The DNA is made up of four nitrogen bases, a phosphate molecule, and pentose sugar.
Thus, the correct answer is deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
2). The secondary structure of DNA represents a double helical structure, in which two DNA strands are present in anti-parallel manner. The two strands are connected to each other with hydrogen bonds between nitrogenous bases.
Thus, the nitrogenous bases are present at the middle and sugar-phosphate molecules make backbone of double-helical structure.
The double-helical structure of DNA is shown in attached figure.
3. In nucleic acid molecule, the phosphodiester bond is formed between 3'-OH of pentose sugar of one DNA strand and 5'-phosphate molecule of another DNA strand.
The phosphodiester bond is shown in attached figure.
