In: Biology
Which of the following is FALSE about the molecular structure of DNA?
The backbone alternates between deoxyribose and a phosphate group. |
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Guanine pairs with cytosine. |
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The 3' end has an OH group. |
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The 5' end has a phosphate group. |
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Adenine pairs with uracil. |
The DNA is an organic molecule that is made of polynucleotide chains having a sugar-phosphate backbone. A nucleotide constitutes three components: a pentose sugar (deoxyribose), a nitrogenous base (purine: Adenine and guanine; pyrimidine: Cytosine and Thymine) and a phosphate group.
A nucleoside is formed when a nitrogenous base joins to the -OH of 1'C pentose sugar by a N-glycosidic linkage, like deoxyadenosine or adenosine, deoxyguanosine or guanosine, deoxycytidine or cytidine, and deoxythymidine or uridine. A nucleotide or deoxynucleotide is formed when the -OH group of 5'C of a nucleoside link to the phosphate group by phosphoester bond. A dinucleotide is formed when two nucleotides are joined by 3'-5' phosphodiester linkage. A polynucleotide chain is developed when more nucleotides are linked by 3'-5' phosphodiester linkage.
The structure of DNA is given below:-
The two chains of a double helix of DNA have an anti-parallel polarity and the nitrogen bases in the two strands are joined through hydrogen bonds which form the base pairs. Adenine of one strand has two hydrogen bonding with Thymine from the opposite or other strand and vice-versa. Similarly, Guanine has three hydrogen bonding with Cytosine. As a result, a purine always lies opposite to a pyrimidine.
The base pairing is drawn as shown below-
Therefore, Adenine pairs with Thymine in DNA.
Hence, the option (e) is incorrect.