What is the structure of DNA?

The structure of DNA is characterized as a double helix made up of nucleotides. This configuration was famously discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. The double helix resembles a twisted ladder, where the sides of the ladder are formed by the sugar and phosphate backbone of the nucleotides, and the rungs consist of paired nitrogenous bases (adenine pairs with thymine and guanine pairs with cytosine).

Nucleotides are the fundamental building blocks of DNA, each comprising a sugar (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. This nucleotide arrangement allows for the encoding of genetic information necessary for the growth, development, and functioning of all living organisms. The double helical structure enables precise copying of DNA during cell division, ensuring that genetic information is accurately transmitted from one generation to the next.