The phosphate groups in the sugar-phosphate backbone of each strand of a DNA molecule have a pKa of ~2.14. Normal physiological pH in most cells is 7.0-7.5, which is significantly above the pKa for the phosphate groups, so every phosphate group in the backbone of both strands of a DNA molecule is deprotonated and carries a -1 charge - but DNA in cells is normally double-stranded. Briefly explain, in your own words, why the large negative charges on the backbones of the two strands of a double-stranded DNA molecule don't cause the strands to separate under normal cellular conditions.
Gene Interactions
When the expression of a single trait is influenced by two or more different non-allelic genes, it is termed as genetic interaction. According to Mendel's law of inheritance, each gene functions in its own way and does not depend on the function of another gene, i.e., a single gene controls each of seven characteristics considered, but the complex contribution of many different genes determine many traits of an organism.
Gene Expression
Gene expression is a process by which the instructions present in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are converted into useful molecules such as proteins, and functional messenger ribonucleic (mRNA) molecules in the case of non-protein-coding genes.
1a) The phosphate groups in the sugar-phosphate backbone of each strand of a DNA molecule have a pKa of ~2.14. Normal physiological pH in most cells is 7.0-7.5, which is significantly above the pKa for the phosphate groups, so every phosphate group in the backbone of both strands of a DNA molecule is deprotonated and carries a -1 charge - but DNA in cells is normally double-stranded. Briefly explain, in your own words, why the large negative charges on the backbones of the two strands of a double-stranded DNA molecule don't cause the strands to separate under normal cellular conditions.
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