Which bases are found in a strand of DNA?
There are four types of nitrogenous bases that are found in a strand of DNA adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). These bases pair up
in a specific manner, with A always pairing with T and C always pairing with G,
to form the rungs of the DNA ladder.
The order of the bases in the DNA sequence determines the genetic code,
which contains instructions for the development, structure, and function of all
living organisms. The sequence of bases determines the sequence of amino
acids in proteins, which ultimately determine the traits of an organism.
DNA is composed of two strands that are held together by hydrogen bonds
between the pairs of bases. This double helix structure is responsible for the
stability of DNA, and allows it to be replicated accurately during cell division.
Understanding the structure and function of DNA has been a major focus of
biological research for many decades, and has led to advances in genetics,
medicine, and biotechnology.
References:
- Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., and Walter, P. (2002). Molecular
Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. New York: Garland Science.
- Watson, J.D, and Crick, F.H.C. (1953). "Molecular structure of nucleic acids: a structure for
deoxyribose nucleic acid". Nature, 171(4356):737-738.
- National Human Genome Research Institute. DNA Sequencing Fact Sheet. (2021).
Available from: https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/DNA-Sequencing-FactSheet