The outside backbone of the DNA molecule is made of alternating molecules of what?

Prepare for the PLTW Biomedical Science Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

The outside backbone of the DNA molecule is made of alternating molecules of what?

Explanation:
The outside framework of DNA is a sugar–phosphate backbone. Along the length of the molecule, alternating sugar molecules (deoxyribose in DNA) and phosphate groups form a continuous chain, linked by phosphodiester bonds. This backbone provides the structural rails for the double helix, while the nitrogenous bases protrude inward to pair with the complementary strand. So the correct idea is that the exterior is built from sugars and phosphates. Nucleotides and bases are essential parts of DNA, but the backbone specifically is the sugar–phosphate chain, and ribose is the sugar of RNA, not DNA.

The outside framework of DNA is a sugar–phosphate backbone. Along the length of the molecule, alternating sugar molecules (deoxyribose in DNA) and phosphate groups form a continuous chain, linked by phosphodiester bonds. This backbone provides the structural rails for the double helix, while the nitrogenous bases protrude inward to pair with the complementary strand. So the correct idea is that the exterior is built from sugars and phosphates. Nucleotides and bases are essential parts of DNA, but the backbone specifically is the sugar–phosphate chain, and ribose is the sugar of RNA, not DNA.

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