A sugar-phosphate backbone has what ends?

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Study with the DAT Bootcamp Molecules and Fundamentals of Biology test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations to prepare effectively.

Multiple Choice

A sugar-phosphate backbone has what ends?

Explanation:
Nucleic acid backbones have directionality because nucleotides are linked by phosphodiester bonds from the 5' phosphate of one sugar to the 3' hydroxyl of the next. This creates two distinct ends: a 5' end with a free phosphate on the terminal sugar, and a 3' end with a free hydroxyl on the terminal sugar. In double-stranded DNA, each strand has its own 5' and 3' ends and they run antiparallel. So the backbone has both ends—the 5' end and the 3' end.

Nucleic acid backbones have directionality because nucleotides are linked by phosphodiester bonds from the 5' phosphate of one sugar to the 3' hydroxyl of the next. This creates two distinct ends: a 5' end with a free phosphate on the terminal sugar, and a 3' end with a free hydroxyl on the terminal sugar. In double-stranded DNA, each strand has its own 5' and 3' ends and they run antiparallel. So the backbone has both ends—the 5' end and the 3' end.

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