The structure of DNA
I can describe the structure of DNA.
The structure of DNA
I can describe the structure of DNA.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- DNA is a type of biological molecule called a nucleic acid.
- DNA is made of two strands, each a long polymer of nucleotides.
- DNA is a polymer of four different nucleotides (A, C, G and T).
- The two strands in DNA are wound together in a double helix shape.
- Making a physical, representational model of DNA.
Keywords
DNA - DNA is a nucleic acid polymer made up of four nucleotides, it contains the genetic code in all living organisms.
Nucleic acid - A nucleic acid is a polymer made up of nucleotides, an example is DNA.
Polymer - A polymer is a chemical made up of smaller repeating chemical groups.
Nucleotide - A nucleotide is a chemical group that make up the building blocks of DNA, the four types are coded A, T, C and G.
Double helix - A DNA molecule is made up of two nucleic acid chains that spiral around each other to form a double helix.
Common misconception
DNA is living and not necessarily a chemical.
Discussing that DNA is a chemical molecule and showing how it is made up of smaller chemical groups, and then modelling this chemical structure.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a polymer made of four nucleotides, which make up the genetic code
a chemical made from many smaller chemical groups
a polymer made up of nucleotides, an example is DNA
the building blocks for nucleic acids and DNA