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Nucleotide:
It is the subunits and buIlding blocks of DNA. It is made up of a five-sided sugar, phosphate group and then a nitrogen base.
Phosphate and Sugar:
These groups make the backbone of the DNA helix. If you look at a DNA helix, they make the side of the ladder or the side portion. They connect to a nitrogen base which make the steps of the ladder. The type of sugar that is used in a DNA helix is called
<em>deoxyribose.</em> Nitrogen base:
Nitrogen bases are the molecules that make up the steps of the ladders. There are four different nitrogen bases, namely;
<em>Guanine, Thymine,Adenine and Cytosine.</em>Pyrimidines are compounds that make a single 6-sided ring. Examples of pyrimidines are Cytosine and Thymine.
Purines on the other hand make 5-sided and 6-sided rings. Examples of purines are Guanine and Adenine.
The nitrogen bases are help together through
hydrogen bonds. 5' end and 3' end:
More commonly referred to as the five prime end and the three prime end. These terms indicate the carbon numbers of the backbone of a DNA. The five prime end is connected to a phosphate group while the three prime end is connected to a hydroxyl group. </span>