Structure of DNA and RNA 

 
Name: Eddy

Recommended resources:
​http://www.bioknowledgy.info/26-structure-of-dna-and-rna.html

1. Label and annotate the structures of this single nucleotide.

a. Phosphate

b. Deoxyribose sugar

c. Nitrogenous base

2. State the type of bond that joins a to b and b to c.

Covalent bonds

3. Complete the table below to show the pairings of the bases in DNA and RNA.

DNA RNA

Adenine - Thymine Adenine - Uracil

Guanine - Cytosine Guanine - Cytosine

4. In the space below, draw a single strand of three nucleotides, naming the bonds between them and
showing the correct relative position of these bonds.

http://www.bioknowledgy.info/ (Chris Paine)

5. Complete the table to distinguish between RNA and DNA.

RNA DNA
Adenine (A) Adenine (A)
Guanine (G) Guanine (G)
Bases
Uracil (U) Thymine (T)
Cytosine (C) Cytosine (C)
Ribose

Sugar

Deoxyribose

Single stranded​​, and often, Two anti-parallel,

Number of strands but not always, linear in shape complementary strands ​form a
double helix

6. In the space below, draw a section of DNA, showing two anti-parallel strands of four nucleotides each.
Label the bonds which hold the bases together as well as the correct complementary base pairs.

http://www.bioknowledgy.info/ (Chris Paine)

7. Define the term double helix.
Double helix are two strands of DNA anti-parallel that are linked
by covalent bonds or hydrogen bonds that are also twisted.

8. Explain why the DNA helix is described as anti-parallel.

DNA helix is describes as anti pararell, because two different
strands in the DNA helix is in opposite directions since base
should face each other and be able to pair, and because of
this, DNA helix is called anti-pararell.

9. Explain the relevance of the following in the double-helix structure of DNA:

a. Complementary base pairing
There are different nitrogenous bases in double-helix structure of DNA and they have rules to pair
with one another which Adenine pairs up with Thymine and Guanine pairs up with Cytosine and this
helps to make the DNA structure and to maintain it and sequence of nucleotides. To ensure a good
ttranscription and translation of the genetic code.

b. Hydrogen bonds
Hydrogen bonds holds up the structure of the double helix which is the structure of DNA since
hydrogen bonds holds adjacent sections together for the double helix structure as well as holding
up complementary base pairs together in the double-helix structure. (two strands of the DNA
molecule together.

http://www.bioknowledgy.info/ (Chris Paine)