DNA – Deoxyribonucleic acid is a molecule which carries the genetic instructions or the hereditary

materials which are used in the growth and development of all living organisms including the virus.

DNA is found in all living organisms and is mainly responsible for the inheritance of the human
beings. The cells of the human body possess same DNA which is located in the nucleus of cells hence
it is described as nuclear DNA and the DNA present in the mitochondria of the cell is termed as
mitochondrial DNA which is inherited from the mother to the child. In humans, there are
approximately 16,000 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA.

DNA Discovery

DNA was first recognized and identified by the Swiss biologist named Johannes Friedrich Miescher in
the year 1869. The double helix structure of a DNA molecule was later discovered through the
experimental data by James Watson and Francis Crick. Finally, it was proved that the DNA is
responsible for storing the genetic information of a human being.Properties

DNA is a long polymer made from repeating units called nucleotides. The structure of DNA is
dynamic along its length, being capable of coiling into tight loops, and other shapes. In all species it
is composed of two helical chains, bound to each other by hydrogen bonds. Both chains are coiled
round the same axis, and have the same pitch of 34 ångströms (3.4 nanometres).

Nucleobase classification

The nucleobases are classified into two types: the purines, A and G, being fused five- and six-
membered heterocyclic compounds, and the pyrimidines, the six-membered rings C and T. A fifth
pyrimidine nucleobase, uracil (U), usually takes the place of thymine in RNA and differs from
thymine by lacking a methyl group on its ring. In addition to RNA and DNA, many artificial nucleic
acid analogues have been created to study the properties of nucleic acids, or for use in
biotechnology.

Non canonical bases

Uracil is not usually found in DNA, occurring only as a breakdown product of cytosine. However, in
several bacteriophages, Bacillus subtilis bacteriophages PBS1 and PBS2 and Yersinia bacteriophage
piR1-37, thymine has been replaced by uracil. Another phage - Staphylococcal phage S6 - has been
identified with a genome where thymine has been replaced by uracil. 5-hydroxymethyldeoxyuracil
(hm5dU) is also known to replace thymidine in several genomes including the Bacillus phages SPO1,
ϕe, SP8, H1, 2C and SP82. Another modified uracil - 5-dihydroxypentauracil – has also been
described.

Base pairing

In a DNA double helix, each type of nucleobase on one strand bonds with just one type of
nucleobase on the other strand. This is called complementary base pairing. Here, purines form
hydrogen bonds to pyrimidines, with adenine bonding only to thymine in two hydrogen bonds, and
cytosine bonding only to guanine in three hydrogen bonds. This arrangement of two nucleotides
binding together across the double helix is called a Watson-Crick base pair. Another type of base
pairing is Hoogsteen base pairing where two hydrogen bonds form between guanine and cytosine.

DNA Structure
Nucleic acids are the organic materials present in an organism including DNA and RNA. These
nucleic acids are formed by the combination of nitrogenous bases, sugar molecules and the
phosphate groups that are linked by different bonds in a series of sequences. The DNA structure
defines the basic genetic makeup of our body. Some virus may have RNA as their genetic material,
but RNA has different functions in most of the organisms.