DNA Structure
Definition
The DNA structure refers to the double helix shape formed by two strands of nucleotides that carry genetic information.
Analogy
Think of DNA as a twisted ladder (double helix). Each rung is made up of pairs of four types of molecules (nucleotides) - adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine. Just like how each step on a ladder helps you reach higher, each 'rung' or pair of nucleotides in DNA carries important information for building an organism.
Related terms
Genes: These are segments within the DNA that contain instructions for building proteins. They're like specific sections on our ladder that tell us what color to paint each step.
Chromosomes: These are long strands of DNA wound around proteins. If our DNA is a ladder, then chromosomes would be several ladders bundled together for storage.
Genome: This is all the genetic material in an organism’s chromosomes. It's like having blueprints (genome) for an entire building where each floor represents a chromosome and every room corresponds to a gene.
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