Describe how DNA is well-adapted to being a molecule for conserved information storage

DNA is a long, large molecule, which allows a lot of information to be stored within in. It has a sugar-phosphate backbone, which protects it from physical and chemical damage as the phospho-diester linkages are very strong. It contains many hydrogen bonds between the two strands of the molecule, and due to there being many bonds the molecule is very stable as breaking so many of them requires a lot of energy, but the hydrogen bonds also allow the strands to be "unzipped" to allow reading of the information. The double strands also allow semi-conservative replication, which means the information can be copied with minimal chance of corruption. Being made up of bases, the information is stored using a universal code, meaning it can be easily read.

JE

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain how the intensive rearing of domestic livestock increases net productivity


Describe the role of DNA polymerase in DNA replication.


How does a signal move from one neurone to another and how does this process change for different motor responses?


Where are the Alpha and Beta cells of the Pancreas located and what are their functions in relation to blood glucose homeostasis?