What is DNA? What is it made of? And how is it packaged in the cell?

In today’s episode, we’ll examine the molecular framework of DNA up close (like⎯extremely close) and explore how that structure expands to form the structure of an entire chromosome.

Part 1: Nucleotide Structure

- The Three Parts of a Nucleotide

- Riboses and Deoxyriboses

- Hallmarks of Aromatic Structure (including Hückel's Rule)

- Purines and Pyrimidines

- Phosphate Groups

- Phosphodiester Bonding and 5'-3' Orientation

Part 2: DNA Structure

- The History of the Watson-Crick Model

- Double-Stranded DNA

- Antiparallel Orientation

- Base-Pairing and Chargaff's Rules

- A-DNA, B-DNA, and Z-DNA

- Structural Dimensions of B-DNA

- Major vs. Minor Grooves

Part 3: Chromosome Structure

- Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

- Supercoiling and DNA Gyrase

- Chromatin Structure

- Heterochromatin vs. Euchromatin

- Chromosome Formation and Condensin Proteins

- Centromere Positions

- Telomere Functions

How do biologists study life? What special building blocks make us "alive"? How do these building blocks work together⎯and what happens when things go wrong?

In our pilot episode, we’re starting off with a deep dive into biomolecules. We’ll talk about the structures and functions of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. We’ll also review a couple of really important functional groups that show up again and again in the most significant biological molecules. And we'll get to the bottom of what biology is all about.