Learn more about DNA structures using these hands-on printable DNA diagrams that we have collected for you! In the following medical diagrams, the detailed diagrams of DNA are illustrated in clear pictures. Follow these diagrams to study more about our DNA system and we’ll start by giving you the first DNA components diagram below.
DNA or Deoxyribonucleic acid is a type of nucleic acid. It is present in all living cells of bacteria, trees, dogs, cats and human. Some viruses also contain DNA. DNA was discovered in 1868 by the German biochemist, Friedrich Miescher who called it nuclein. The back-bone of the two helices of polynucleotide chain consists of deoxyribose phosphates while the bases are present on the inner sides. The bases of the one polynucleotide chain are complementary to the bases of the other polynucleotide chain and are joined together by hydrogen bonds. The base pairing is very specific. As you can see in the DNA diagram above, in DNA, Adenine (A) always pairs with thymine (T), and guanine (G) always pairs with cytosine (C). All four of these nucleobases are relatively complex molecules, with the unifying feature that they all tend to have multiple nitrogen atoms in their structures. More DNA diagrams are posted below.
Nucleic acids are made up of chains of many repeating units called nucleotides. The DNA molecule actually consists of two such chains that spiral around an imaginary axis to form a double helix (spiral.) Nucleic acid molecules are incredibly complex, containing the code that guarantees the accurate ordering of the 20 amino acids in all proteins made by living cells. Surprisingly though there are only a few different nucleotides: only four different nucleotide units comprise DNA, the nucleic acid of interest to the genealogist.
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