The structure of DNA, deoxyribonucleic acids, is composed of a complexly arranged sort of molecules and compounds, each with its’ own role and specificity of what it is supposed to accomplish.
Backbones-
The backbones, also called nucleosides, of DNA are the two strands that continuously coil around a common axis to outline the famous double helix. These two strands are each strongly held together and made up of covalently bonded deoxyribose sugar compounds, and phosphate groups, which are both mostly made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen elements.
Bases-
The bases, also called nucleotides, of DNA are the paired horizontal pendants, which connect the two strands, or backbones, of the DNA. These bases are made up of nitrogenous bases, consisting of four different types of molecules. These bases are Thymine, Cytosine, Adenine, and Guanine (Their chemical formulas may be viewed in the glossary section). Each type of molecule is individually bonded with the phosphate and deoxyribose sugar that are located within the separated DNA strands, as shown at the lower diagram. The bases are hydrogen bonded together which then join the two strands that fully form the famous double helix.
Look at the diagram below for a visual comprehension of DNA's main components.
Best viewed in a maximized window and with a monitor resolution of 1024 x 768. All written materials and information
were fully composed, as well as altered images and diagrams, by Josh Eisma (2002), unless otherwise specified.
