The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.
Help Write Articles about our World
Welcome to Citizendium, a wiki for providing free knowledge where authors use their real names. We regard information as a public good and welcome anyone who wants to share their knowledge on virtually any subject. Our online community prides itself on being congenial and supportive. Read more about who we are.
See Recent Changes—an overview of articles being worked on now.
Become a member--it's free!
|
Article counts
Citable Articles (145)
Developed Articles (1,136)
Developing Articles (7,674)
Stubs (7,900)
(16,970 total articles)
|
A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.
— Khalil Gibran (1883–1931)
—add a quotation about knowledge or writing
|
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) provides the genetic information necessary for the development and reproduction of all living organisms and is often described as a genetic blueprint.[1] Every living organism has its own DNA code that is organized in the ladder-like structure of the DNA molecule as a series of complementary paired molecules called bases. DNA is found within the nucleus of many cells, including those of animal and plant life.
Shown here are the four "letters" of DNA.
Each single strand of DNA is a long biopolymer composed of repeating units called nucleotides. A nucleotide is a base linked to a sugar and phosphate group which form a sugar/phosphate backbone. Attached to each sugar molecule (deoxyribose) is one of the four bases:
The corresponding deoxynucleosides are:
- Deoxyadenosine[6]
- Thymidine[7]
- Deoxyguanosine[8]
- Deoxycytidine[9]
Nuclear DNA is organized and stored as chromosomes within the nucleus. The nucleus is a double membrane separating the DNA from the cytoplasm of the cell enabling certain processing to occur prior to protein synthesis. Each chromosome holds hundreds or thousands of genes. A gene can be described in different ways but in general can be thought of as a whole unit of genetic information.
|
|