Question
Biology Chapter 8 Test What structures make up the backbone of the DNA double helix?
Ask by Barrett Campos. in the United States
Mar 09,2025
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Answer
The DNA double helix backbone is made up of sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups that alternate to form a chain, with nitrogenous bases extending from the sugars to pair with the opposite strand.
Solution
The backbone of the DNA double helix is made up of two main components:
1. **Sugar Molecules**: Specifically, deoxyribose sugar is the sugar component in DNA. Each sugar molecule is part of a nucleotide.
2. **Phosphate Groups**: Each sugar is linked to a phosphate group, forming a sugar-phosphate backbone. The phosphate group of one nucleotide connects to the sugar of the next nucleotide, creating a long chain.
These sugar and phosphate groups alternate to form the backbone, while the nitrogenous bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine) extend from the sugars and pair with complementary bases on the opposite strand, contributing to the double helix structure.
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Simplify this solution The Deep Dive
The backbone of the DNA double helix is primarily composed of alternating sugar and phosphate groups. Specifically, the sugar is deoxyribose, which links to a phosphate group to form a phosphodiester bond. This structure provides stability and support to the DNA molecule while allowing the bases to protrude inward for base pairing. In a fun twist, think of the sugar-phosphate backbone as the sturdy spine of a book, giving structure and protecting the important "story" told by the nitrogenous bases, which are like the exciting chapters filled with genetic information that determine traits and functions!
