Question

The strongly acidic nature of DNA poses a problem. Why do Watson and Crick think that the DNA "dyad", formed by hybridization of two negatively charged molecules, is stable?

Answer 1

Answer:

Negatively charged phosphate groups of two strands are aligned distantly from each other in a DNA double helix.

Explanation:

DNA double helix is formed when the complementary bases of two single DNA strands pair with each other. The formation of double-stranded structures places the negatively charged phosphate groups of two single DNA strands away from each other. This is because complementary base pairs are present between the sugar-phosphate backbones of two DNA strands of a double helix. The double-helical structure also concentrates the nitrogenous bases away from the surrounding watery medium. Altogether, these factors stabilize DNA dyad.