DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is like a blueprint for life that tells cells how to work and grow. Its structure looks like a spiral staircase, called a double helix.
DNA Structure:
Backbone (sides of the ladder): The two sides of the ladder are made of alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate molecules.
Rungs (steps of the ladder): The rungs of the ladder are made up of pairs of molecules called bases. There are four types of bases in DNA:
Adenine (A)
Thymine (T)
Cytosine (C)
Guanine (G)
These bases always pair in a specific way:
A pairs with T
C pairs with G
Twist: The ladder is twisted into a spiral shape, which makes the structure more compact and stable.
DNA is found in almost every cell in your body and contains the instructions for building and maintaining all living things. The order of the bases (A, T, C, G) in the DNA sequence is like a code that tells your body how to make proteins, which are essential for everything your body does.