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deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Function:
- contains blueprint for reproduction & other cellular functions
- in coding regions, DNA is transcribed into RNA
- rRNA
- tRNA
- mRNA
- siRNA: at least some siRNA may derive from pre-mRNA transcripts
- within a protein-coding gene, the sequence of nucleotides (group of 3 - codon) determines the sequence of amino acids in the protein it encodes
- non-coding regions perform essential functions
- promoters & enhancer elements that regulate gene expression
- sequences of DNA are needed for tertiary structure, attachment to the nuclear matrix, for initiation of DNA replication, for formation of centromeres ...
- 80% of human DNA is transcribed into small RNA segments that control gene expression [2]
- 8% of human DNA is derived from viruses [3]
Structure:
- nucleotides consist of deoxyadenosine, deoxycytidine, deoxyguanosine and deoxythymidine where the base is adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine respectively
- two antiparallel polynucleotide chains arranged in right handed double helix, with nucleotide bases associated by hydrogen bonds - adenine (A) associates with thymine (T) and cytosine (C) associates with guanine (G)
Compartment:
- in eukaryotes, DNA residues in nucleus & mitochondria
Related
codon (triplet)
DNA (genetic) testing
DNA damage
DNA methylation (promoter methylation)
DNA repair
DNA synthesis
Specific
complementary DNA (cDNA)
double-strand DNA (ds DNA)
gene
gene cluster
mitochondrial DNA
Okasaki fragment
pseudogene
replicon
ribosomal DNA
satellite DNA
single-strand DNA (ss DNA)
transposon (jumping gene, transposable element, mobile genetic element, selfish DNA)
General
polynucleotide
Properties
References
- Nature Editorial
Spinning threads
Nature 489, 5-6 (06 September 2012
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v489/n7414/full/489005b.html
- Pennisi E.
Genomics: ENCODE Project writes eulogy for junk DNA.
Science 2012 Sep 7; 337:1159.
PMID: 22955811
- University of Texas at Arlington
Evolutionary surprise: Eight percent of human genetic material comes from a virus.
Science News. 2010. Jan 8.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100107103621.htm
Component-of
molecular complex