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Introduction of DNA

Genetic Materials of Life; Introduction of DNA 

Nucleic acids are capable in directing their own replication from their monomers. In most organisms, DNA is found as the genetic material. However, some viruses such as influenza virus, consist RNA as their genetic material. Accurate replication of DNA, its transmission from one generation to the other and its ability to store and express hereditary information facilitates DNA for acting as vital genetic material in organisms.


Dr.James Watson and Dr.Francis Crick, based on the X-ray crystallography of a DNA molecule obtained by Dr.Rosalind Franklin, proposed the double helix model to describe how the six molecules; de-oxyribose sugar, phosphate group and four different nitrogenous bases, are organized into DNA and explain its properties. According to this model, DNA is a twisted ladder (spiral staircase) in which the rails are composed of alternating phosphate and sugar molecules forming the back bone. The steps of the ladder are paired nitrogenous bases. A purine is paired with a pyrimidine as per the base pairing rule with either two hydrogen bonds (A=T) or three (G ≡ C). T.H. Morgan and his group, through their experiments concluded that chromosomes are made up of DNA and proteins and genes as regions of chromosomes.



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