Question

If the DNA Helix spun backwards, what would happen? Anyone smart enough to debate on this?

Answer 1

google is

Answer 2

well remember that one half is 3" to 5" and the complement is 5" to 3" so if you flip it you still have the same orientation

Answer 3

>_> im out

Answer 4

dont like that answer?

Answer 5

spun backward as in? unwinding?

Answer 6

Your answer is quite debatable. Im not sure of the answer myself. its just one of these question that strike my head. Well, the spining of the helix in its current position is still a mystery. I believe if turning is swtched from clockwise to anti-clockwise the entire chemistry of the cell would change as well for the bases

Answer 7

see if u mean unwinding then an external force would be required to break d hydrogen bonds and revert the stable structure..

Answer 8

No. If the current spinning is clockwise
What will happen if its spun anti-clockwise. Im not talking about the unwinding or breaking of bonds.
Im talking about the probability of the base structures and sequence if the helix spun anti-clockwise. Would it be any different? or the same?

Answer 9

They are mirror images of each other, so anti-parallel will be an isoform of the parallel structure. It's as if you decided to go from bottom to top instead of top to bottom. Still the same structure in every way.

I hope I am understanding the question correctly

Answer 10

there are dna molecules which spin anticlockwise.....its the Z DNA...

Answer 11

whats zDNA @shrutipande9?

Answer 12

there are 3 types of DNA A B and Z. The most common is B DNA. which we usually study....Z DNA spins in the opposite direction of B.

Answer 13

when you say spin, it is the direction it takes during transcription/replication?

Answer 14

I don't mean to sound rude, but is their a button to stop receiving notifications for this question?

Answer 15

not really...i mean see it is considered that dna is wound around an imaginary axis right? so this winding is either from right side ie right handed helix or left. so B is right handed helix while Z is left....

Answer 16

Ah! gotcha, I was off-base. Thanks for clearing that up @shrutipande9

Answer 17

no problem:)...where is @blackilluminati? it was his debate..:P i guess we just invaded it:P

Answer 18

hes prob watching

Answer 19

he ran out on us!

Answer 20

probably we will continue this when he is present..with his out of the world ideas...i like it...:D