The World Below

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  +   Prompt: DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is a long, double-stranded molecule that contains genetic information in living organisms. It is composed of nucleotides, which are made up of a sugar molecule (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). The nucleotides are linked together by phosphodiester bonds, which create the sugar-phosphate backbone of the DNA molecule. The structure of DNA is a double helix, which consists of two complementary strands of nucleotides that are twisted around each other. The nitrogenous bases pair up in a specific way, with adenine always pairing with thymine, and guanine always pairing with cytosine. These base pairs are held together by hydrogen bonds. The sequence of the nitrogenous bases in DNA determines the genetic information that is stored within the molecule. This information is encoded in the form of genes, which are stretches of DNA that provide instructions for the synthesis of proteins and other molecules that are essential for life processes. The sequence of DNA can be altered through mutations, which can lead to changes in the genetic information that is passed on