Table of contents

1. Introduction to Genetics51m
2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
8. DNA Replication1h 10m
9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
10. Transcription1h 0m
11. Translation58m
12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
14. Genetic Control of Development44m
15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
16. Transposable Elements47m
17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- Genetic Cloning
  9m
- Methods for Analyzing DNA
  9m
19. Cancer Genetics29m
- Overview of Cancer
  21m
- Cancer Mutations
  7m
20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
21. Population Genetics50m
- Hardy Weinberg
  19m
- Allelic Frequency Changes
  31m
22. Evolutionary Genetics29m

7. DNA and Chromosome Structure

DNA Structure

Genetics

7. DNA and Chromosome Structure

DNA Structure

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1:55 minutes

Problem 5b

Textbook Question

One strand of a fragment of duplex DNA has the sequence 5'-ATCGACCTGATC-3'.
What is the name of the bond that joins one nucleotide to another in the DNA strand?

Verified step by step guidance

Understand that DNA is composed of nucleotides, which are joined together to form a strand. Each nucleotide consists of three components: a phosphate group, a sugar molecule (deoxyribose), and a nitrogenous base.

Recognize that the bond joining one nucleotide to another in a DNA strand is a covalent bond called a phosphodiester bond. This bond connects the phosphate group of one nucleotide to the 3' hydroxyl group of the sugar molecule in the next nucleotide.

Visualize the structure of the DNA strand: the backbone is made up of alternating sugar and phosphate groups, while the nitrogenous bases extend inward to form base pairs with the complementary strand.

Recall that the phosphodiester bond is formed during DNA synthesis by the enzyme DNA polymerase, which catalyzes the addition of nucleotides to the growing DNA strand.

Note that the directionality of the DNA strand is determined by the orientation of the phosphodiester bonds, which run from the 5' end (phosphate group) to the 3' end (hydroxyl group).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Phosphodiester Bond

A phosphodiester bond is a type of covalent bond that links nucleotides together in a DNA strand. It forms between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the hydroxyl group on the sugar of another nucleotide, creating a backbone that is essential for the structural integrity of DNA.

Nucleotide Structure

Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA and consist of three components: a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar (deoxyribose in DNA), and a nitrogenous base. The sequence of these nucleotides encodes genetic information, and understanding their structure is crucial for grasping how they connect through phosphodiester bonds.

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