Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

34. Nucleic Acids

DNA Double Helix

Organic Chemistry

34. Nucleic Acids

DNA Double Helix

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Multiple Choice

In the structure of the DNA double helix, what does the term 'double' refer to?

The presence of two strands of nucleotides

The double bond between adenine and thymine

The double replication process during cell division

The double helical shape of the sugar-phosphate backbone

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Verified step by step guidance

Begin by understanding the structure of DNA. DNA is composed of two long strands of nucleotides that wind around each other to form a double helix.

The term 'double' in the context of DNA refers to the two strands that make up the DNA molecule. These strands are complementary and run in opposite directions, known as antiparallel orientation.

Each strand of DNA is made up of a sugar-phosphate backbone with nitrogenous bases attached. The bases pair specifically: adenine with thymine and cytosine with guanine.

The double helical shape is a result of the specific pairing and twisting of these two strands, forming a stable structure that is crucial for the storage and transmission of genetic information.

The double helix is not related to the double bond between adenine and thymine or the replication process during cell division. It specifically refers to the two intertwined strands forming the helical structure.