Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Definition

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the molecule that carries genetic information in all living organisms and many viruses. It is composed of two strands that coil around each other to form a double helix.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. DNA is made up of four nucleotide bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).
2. The structure of DNA was discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953.
3. In DNA, adenine pairs with thymine, and cytosine pairs with guanine.
4. DNA replication is the process by which DNA makes a copy of itself during cell division.
5. Genes, which are segments of DNA, code for specific proteins that perform various functions within cells.

Review Questions

• What are the four nucleotide bases found in DNA?
• Describe the structure of the DNA molecule.
• How do adenine and thymine pair together in the DNA double helix?

Related terms

RNA: RNA or ribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid present in all living cells, playing a role in protein synthesis and gene regulation.

Chromosome: A chromosome is a long DNA molecule with part or all of the genetic material of an organism.

Gene: A gene is a segment of DNA that contains coding instructions for making proteins or functional RNA molecules.