DNA/DNA Synthesis DNA

Components of a Nucleotide

• A nucleotide consists of three components: a sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Nitrogenous Bases

• Purine bases in DNA are adenine (A) and guanine (G).
• Adenine (A) base pairs with thymine (T) in DNA.

Hydrogen Bonds in DNA

• Hydrogen bonds are weak chemical bonds that hold the two complementary strands of DNA together.

DNA Synthesis

• The function of DNA polymerase during DNA synthesis is to add nucleotides to a growing DNA strand.
• During DNA synthesis, an existing strand of DNA serves as a template for the creation of a new complementary strand.
• The two duplicate molecules formed during DNA synthesis are called identical sister chromatids.

Structure of DNA

• The structure of DNA is called a double helix.

Codon and Gene Function

• A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides that codes for a specific amino acid or stops protein synthesis.
• The function of a gene in DNA is to provide the instructions for creating a specific protein or performing a specific cellular function.