What does the designations of 3' and 5' refer to on DNA?

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What does the designations of 3' and 5' refer to on DNA?

2007-03-15 14:39:55 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology

3 answers

Actually, this is the number of the carbon that the nucleotides are bound to; the ribose backbone. The ringed sugars have carbon atoms that are numbered, 3 on the bottom of the ring and 5 on the top. Google DNA and look at the structure to get a visual idea.

2007-03-15 16:10:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋

3' refers to one side of the DNA strand and 5' refers to the other end. During DNA replication, DNA can only be constructed in the 5' to 3' direction.

2007-03-15 22:46:00 · answer #2 · answered by redsox579 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋

they are the carbons on the deoxyribose sugar on dna strands. 5 is where the new nucleotide attaches to an older one. 3 is where a new nucletide comes in.

2007-03-16 22:27:10 · answer #3 · answered by wesnaw1 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋