DNA backbone

Definition

The DNA backbone refers to the sugar-phosphate chains that make up the sides of the DNA double helix. It consists of alternating deoxyribose sugar molecules and phosphate groups.

Related terms

Nucleotide:

A nucleotide is a building block of DNA that consists of a sugar molecule (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Base Pairing: Base pairing refers to the specific hydrogen bonding between complementary nitrogenous bases (adenine with thymine, guanine with cytosine) in DNA molecules.

Double Helix:

The double helix is the twisted ladder-like structure formed by two strands of DNA held together by hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs.