Question

As the minor and major grooves of the DNA wind around a DNA double helix, do they ever intersect each other, or do they always run parallel to each other?

Answer 1

Major and minor grooves in the DNA double helix run parallel and do not intersect. They are essential for protein interactions that regulate DNA-related processes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The major and minor grooves of the DNA helix do not intersect each other; they always run parallel to each other. The double helical structure of DNA consists of two strands that coil around each other, forming a ladder-like structure with a uniform diameter of 2 nm. These strands are sugar-phosphate backbones, and the steps of the ladder are nitrogenous bases paired together by hydrogen bonds. The asymmetrical spacing of the backbones creates the major (wider) and minor (narrower) grooves that are crucial for protein interactions. Proteins bind to these grooves to regulate processes such as replication and transcription.