Introduction to DNA

• DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid
• It is a molecule that contains the genetic instructions for the development and functioning of all living organisms
• Watson and Crick discovered the double helix structure of DNA in 1953
• DNA is made up of four nucleotide bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G)
• These bases pair up in a specific way: A with T and C with G

DNA: The Blueprint of Life

Did you know? DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic acid. It contains the genetic instructions for the development and functioning of all living organisms. DNA is made up of nucleotides and forms a double helix structure. It was first discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. Fun fact: If you unraveled all the DNA in your body, it would stretch from the Earth to the Sun and back over 600 times!

Structure of DNA

• DNA is a double helix structure made up of nucleotides.
• Each nucleotide consists of a phosphate group, a sugar molecule (deoxyribose), and a nitrogenous base (adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine).
• The two strands of DNA are held together by hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs.
• The base pairing rules are: A with T and C with G.
• The structure of DNA was discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953.

Structure of DNA

Trivia: DNA has a double helix structure, not a quadruple helix structure as some may think. This iconic structure was discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. It consists of two strands that are twisted around each other, forming a spiral staircase-like shape. The discovery of the DNA structure revolutionized the field of genetics and paved the way for advancements in molecular biology and biotechnology.