1) Which two substances form the backbone of the DNA molecule? 2) Is the backbone of the DNA molecule identical in all living things? 3) Are base pairs always the same? 4) If there are five guanine bases in one strand of your DNA model, how many cytosine bases will be in the complementary strand? 5) If there are 10 thymine bases in one strand of your DNA model, how many adenine bases will be in the complementary strand? 6) Given the similarity of the DNA molecule across all living things (same pairings and only six components), why is there such a vast diversity of life?
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- The two substances that form the backbone of the DNA molecule are deoxyribose sugar molecules and phosphate groups. These molecules alternate to create the sugar-phosphate backbone of the DNA double helix.
- Yes, the backbone of the DNA molecule is identical in all living things. The basic structure of DNA, consisting of the sugar-phosphate backbone, is the same in organisms ranging from bacteria to plants to animals.
- Base pairs in DNA are not always the same, but they follow specific pairing rules: adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G). This complementary base pairing is consistent across all DNA molecules.
- If there are five guanine (G) bases in one strand of DNA, the complementary strand will have five cytosine (C) bases. In DNA, the number of guanine bases always matches the number of cytosine bases in the complementary strand due to their complementary base pairing (G pairs with C).
- If there are 10 thymine (T) bases in one strand of DNA, the complementary strand will have 10 adenine (A) bases. Adenine always pairs with thymine in DNA, following the complementary base pairing rules (A pairs with T).
- Despite the fundamental similarities in the structure of DNA across all living organisms, vast diversity arises due to differences in the sequence and organization of genes within the DNA. The specific arrangement of nucleotide bases (A, T, C, G) in DNA determines the genetic information and the instructions for building and functioning of different proteins. Mutations, genetic recombination, environmental factors, and natural selection contribute to genetic diversity, allowing for variations in traits, adaptations, and evolutionary changes over time, leading to the immense diversity of life forms on Earth. Additionally, while the basic structure of DNA is conserved, the expression and regulation of genes vary significantly between different species, contributing further to the diversity observed in living organisms.