Here's a breakdown:
* DNA Structure: DNA is a double helix, resembling a twisted ladder.
* Backbone: The sides of the ladder are made up of alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups.
* Steps: The rungs of the ladder are formed by pairs of nitrogenous bases connected by hydrogen bonds.
There are four types of nitrogenous bases in DNA:
* Adenine (A)
* Thymine (T)
* Guanine (G)
* Cytosine (C)
These bases always pair up in a specific way:
* Adenine (A) always pairs with Thymine (T)
* Guanine (G) always pairs with Cytosine (C)
So, each step of the DNA molecule is formed by a pair of bases (A-T or G-C) held together by hydrogen bonds. This pairing arrangement is crucial for maintaining the structure and function of DNA.
