DNA essential questions
how is DNA built?
DNA is built by lining up base pairs (A, T, C, G) with each other and forming a strand known as the double helix. in each pair, there is one nitrogenous base (A, C, T, G), one phosphate group, and one sugar (deoxyribose).
how is DNA packaged?
strands of DNA are wrapped around histone proteins. DNA on histones is then tightly wrapped into chromatin. the chromatin is packaged together closely to form a chromosome, which goes into the nucleus of a cell.
how is DNA copied? why is it copied?
DNA is copied when helicase unzips the double helix structure into two separate strands. DNA polymerase comes and produces the opposite base pairing for each nitrogenous base on one strand of the separated DNA so that there are two exactly identical new strands by the end of the process. it is copied for use in cell replication, so that two new cells will have the same genetic code.
