Question

What is (are) the role(s) of phospho-diester bonds in DNA structure? What is (are) the role(s) of hydrogen bonds in DNA structure? What is (are) the role(s) of hydrophobic interactions in DNA structure?

A. Phospho-diester bonds provide stability, hydrogen bonds contribute to sequence specificity, and hydrophobic interactions maintain helical structure.
B. Phospho-diester bonds contribute to sequence specificity, hydrogen bonds provide stability, and hydrophobic interactions maintain helical structure.
C. Phospho-diester bonds maintain helical structure, hydrogen bonds provide stability, and hydrophobic interactions contribute to sequence specificity.
D. Phospho-diester bonds contribute to sequence specificity, hydrogen bonds maintain helical structure, and hydrophobic interactions provide stability.

Answer 1

The phospho-diester bonds form DNA's backbone and provide stability, hydrogen bonds ensure sequence specificity through base pairing, and hydrophobic interactions contribute to maintaining the helical structure of DNA. The correct option is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The roles of phospho-diester bonds, hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic interactions in DNA structure are crucial to its function and stability. Phospho-diester bonds form the backbone of DNA, connecting the sugar of one nucleotide to the phosphate group of the next, providing stability to the DNA molecule.

The hydrogen bonds between nucleotides are responsible for the specific pairing of DNA bases, ensuring the sequence specificity necessary for accurate replication and transcription of genetic information. This precise pairing involves hydrogen bonds between thymine and adenine (two hydrogen bonds) and between guanine and cytosine (three hydrogen bonds).

Lastly, hydrophobic interactions among the bases in DNA contribute to the double helix's overall three-dimensional structure, as these interactions help to maintain the helical shape by keeping the hydrophobic bases stacked and insulated from the aqueous environment inside the cell.