Question

what does dna look like?
before you read
after you read this section, you should be able to answer these questions:

• what units make up dna?
• what does dna look like?
• how does dna copy itself?

national science
education standards
ls 1a, 2d, 5a
what is dna?
remember that inherited traits are traits that are passed traits are passed on, you must understand the structure of dna. dna (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the molecule that carries the instructions for inherited traits. in cells, dna is wrapped around proteins to form chromosomes. stretches of dna that carry the information for inherited traits are called genes.
study tip
read the text, make a list of ideas that are confusing. discuss these with a small group. ask your teacher to explain things that your group is unsure about.
what is dna made of?
dna is made up of smaller units called nucleotides. a nucleotide is made of three parts: a sugar, a phosphate, and a base. the sugar and the phosphate are the same for each nucleotide. however, different nucleotides may have different bases.
there are four different bases found in dna nucleotides. they are adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine. scientists often refer to a base by its first letter: a for adenine, t for thymine, g for guanine, and c for cytosine. each base has a different shape.
the four nucleotides of dna
take a look

1. identify what are two things that are the same in all nucleotides?

Explanation:

The text states that a nucleotide is made of three parts: a sugar, a phosphate, and a base. It also mentions that the sugar and the phosphate are the same for each nucleotide.

Answer:

The sugar and the phosphate.