What monomers make up DNA?

The monomers of DNA are nucleotides.

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What are the components of a nucleotide?

A nucleotide consists of three parts: a phosphate group, a pentose sugar molecule, and a nitrogeneous base. The nitrogeneous base can be cytosine (C), thymine (T), adenine (A), or guanine (G).


The three parts are bonded together as shown below.

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Describe the backbone of a DNA strand.

The backbone of a DNA strand is made up of phosphate and sugar molecules; covalent bonds form between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the sugar of another nucleotide.


A section of the phosphate-sugar backbone is shown below.

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State and explain the type of polymerisation that occurs in the formation of DNA.

The formation of DNA is an example of condensation polymerisation because a small molecule i.e. water is eliminated. 


The -OH group of a phosphate on one nucleotide reacts with the -OH group on a sugar molecule on another nucleotide, eliminating a molecule of water:

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Describe the structure of DNA.

DNA consists of two polynucleotide strands that that run in opposite directions, forming a double helix structure.

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What type of intermolecular force holds the two strands of DNA together?

Hydrogen bonds hold the two strands of DNA together.

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What type of bond forms between nucleotides in a DNA strand?

A covalent (phosphodiester) bond forms between nucleotides in a DNA strand.

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How many hydrogen bonds do adenine and thyamine form with each other?

2 hydrogen bonds

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In what way are the two strands of DNA described as complementary?

The two DNA strands match up in a way that adenine (A) on one strand always pairs with thymine (T) on the other, and guanine (G) on one strand always pairs with cytosine (C) on the other.


This specific base pairing creates a complementary relationship between the two strands of DNA.

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How many hydrogen bonds do cytosine and guanine form with each other?

3 hydrogen bonds

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