Chemistry of DNA Nanotechnology Special Issue

Overview

DNA and RNADNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) are both nucleic acids that store and transfer genetic information. While DNA carries the instructions for all cellular activities, RNA plays a key role in translating those instructions into proteins. The main differences between DNA and RNA lie in their structure, function, and location within the cell:Structure: DNA has a double-stranded helix, while RNA is single-stranded.Sugar: DNA contains deoxyribose, whereas RNA contains...

The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms  a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
DNA...

DNA StructureDNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses. Its double-helix structure, discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick, allows it to store and transmit genetic information efficiently. DNA is composed of nucleotides, each containing a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine). These nitrogenous...

DNADNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the molecule that carries the genetic instructions for all living organisms. It determines an organism’s traits by encoding information in a sequence of four chemical bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). These bases form a double-helix structure, with A pairing with T and C pairing with G. DNA is found in the nucleus of cells and plays a crucial role in inheritance, cell function, and evolution.DNA research allows scientists to...

Two structural features of the DNA molecule provide a basis for the mechanisms of heredity: the four nucleotide bases and its double-stranded nature. The Watson-Crick model of double-helical DNA structure, proposed in 1952, drew heavily upon the X-ray crystallography work of researchers Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work in 1962. Franklin was, controversially, excluded from the prize for...