Template:POTD/2012-11-17
Picture of the day archives
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2012 November
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2012 November 16
2012 November 18
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Picture of the day
A diagram showing the structure of
DNA
, with detail showing the structure of the four
bases
:
adenine
,
cytosine
,
guanine
and
thymine
, and the location of the major and minor groove. Along with
RNA
and
proteins
, DNA is one of the three major
macromolecules
that are essential for all known forms of life. Most DNA molecules are
double-stranded helices
, consisting of two long
polymers
of simple units called
nucleotides
, molecules with
backbones
made of alternating
sugars
(deoxyribose) and
phosphate
groups, with the bases attached to the sugars.
Image:
Richard Wheeler
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