The Physics of DNA
the basics
- the physics
- an intro to
replication - the physics of
replication - bibliography
THE PHYSICS
OF DNA
The physics of DNA
is most evident in the bonds that form between the base pairs.
These hydrogen bonds are electrostatic forces that are caused by
an attraction
of negative charges to positive charges. The pairing of bases
occurs because
thymine fits very precisely into the shape of adenine, while
guanine fits
perfectly into a cytosine. Because of the very close proximity
the bases
are able to get to each other, it allows the charged portions of
the
molecules to come into contact with each other. This causes an
electrostatic force that is great enough to hold the two base
Because
physics is responsible for the
pairs together. This bond, however, is very weak. The
bases
bonding that holds
the DNA together, it's
are able to form this electrostatic force because of
charged
importance in the
biological process is
molecules, such as the O and the H in the top bond
seen
indispensable.
below(the dotted lines are electrostatic forces), the
H
and the N in the middle bond, and the H and O in
the bottom bond.
![http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/GC_DNA_base_pair.svg/500px-GC_DNA_base_pair.svg.png http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/GC_DNA_base_pair.svg/500px-GC_DNA_base_pair.svg.png](500px-GC_DNA_base_pair.svg.png)