2006-08-31 09:21:47 · 8 answers · asked by martian_sam86 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Well, I know how it forms- but why does it coil the way it does? What makes it do so? Is it charges or what?? I think the answer lies in physics somewhere..so hope that helps in explaining what I'm looking for...
2006-08-31 18:01:16 · update #1
It doesn't it is a double helix. this is just the shape of the proteins after they are connected together
2006-08-31 09:25:45 · answer #1 · answered by bretttwarwick 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
DNA strands are made up of ribose sugar bases which have a phosphorus on the 5th Carbon. To attach each ribose to the next, the Phosphrus on 5th carbon (or 5') has to attach to the 3rd carbon on the next ribose (or 3'). This "alpha" bond has a special shape which causes a certain kink or twist in the chain. So, as the riboses attach the chain twists into a helix shape (which is why they are sometimes called alpha helixes). What causes the DNA double helix is the attachment of two DNA strands (one in the 3'5' direction and the other in the 5'3' direction). This is done by the bases that each ribose sugar is attached to: Each ribose sugar is attached to either a A, G, C or T base. A and T are complementary as are the C and G. These complementary bases line up and Hydrogen bonding occurs between them, attaching the two strands of DNA. So both single helixes join up to form the well know DNA double helix.
hope i helped
2006-08-31 09:37:44 · answer #2 · answered by genius gnat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DNA strands twist into a double helix shape because that is the most compact shape possible that would hold the chemical components of DNA. Deoxyribonucleic Acid is composed of four main chemicals. Those chemicals symbols are G, A, T, and C. Each of the chemicals must pair with another of the chemicals to make a kind of zipper.
2006-08-31 09:33:35 · answer #3 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, DNA strands are not one helix, but two. The strands are compacted tightly, because it raps around protiens. The best way to see if this is true is by viewing a cell division.
2006-08-31 16:51:46 · answer #4 · answered by jjefferson210 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its in a double helix so it can be really compact and coil up inside of the chromosomes. The double helix structure takes up the least amount of space.
2006-08-31 09:28:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its basically the same reason that any molecule takes it's particular shape. It is the state that takes the least amount of energy to maintain. It is the same reason you normally see slinkees coiled up instead of stretched out. -edit, i don't want yo confuse my analogy with the slinkee, it kinda look s like a coil but the message I was trying to make was that it just takes less energy to have the slinkee coiled up and instead of stretched out.
2006-08-31 09:25:39 · answer #6 · answered by abcdefghijk 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The shape help to dupiicate itself.
2006-08-31 12:11:52 · answer #7 · answered by moosa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont know
2006-08-31 09:24:30 · answer #8 · answered by ninja monkey 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋