Double helix

Definition

A double helix is the structure formed by two strands of DNA wound around each other, resembling a twisted ladder. This configuration allows for the efficient storage of genetic information and its accurate replication.

Related terms

Base pairing: The specific hydrogen bonding between adenine and thymine (A-T) or cytosine and guanine (C-G) in DNA.

Nucleotide: The basic building block of DNA and RNA, consisting of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Genetic code: The set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material (DNA or RNA sequences) is translated into proteins by living cells.