Question

Could someone help me understand the polarity in double stranded DNA?

I don't get if it is polar or not, and if it is why. What does the polarity mean in regards to the bigger picture?

Answer 1

heya nelso! welcome to openstudy!!

Answer 2

dna definitely has polarity....each strand has a 5' and 3' end

Answer 3

this 3' and 5' refers to the carbon of the deoxyribose sugar....

Answer 4

Yes, but I guess I don't understand where this polarity is coming from and why it creates polarity. & thank you!

Answer 5

other thing is...net charge on DNA is negative...this is mainly because of the phophate group..
see 2 O of the phosphate are bound to 2 deoxyribose...and other 2 remain unbound...so these oxygen ions ie O- create the negative charge

Answer 6

okay! I think that makes sense. do you know if the polarity of DNA affects anything, like interactions with other parts of the cell?

Answer 7

ohh yes...it definitely affects other parts...basically this negative charge and the hydrogen bonding between the nitrogen bases gives DNA its peculiar double helical structure....plus this negative charge tends to repel a lot of ions and moleculess keeping the DNA stable.....it maybe enhances or reduces the binding of different enzymes and factors used in replication transcription etc...
i hope this helps:D

Answer 8

very much! thank you!! (: