Can someone please tell me what acid does to DNA? Ive looked everywhere and can't find anything simple enough to understand and need an answer really quick. thanks!
DNA is a covalently bonded organic molecule with hundreds of thousands of bonds. What is an acid environment going to do to that structure? Large organic molecules are very fragile to pH changes.
http://mutage.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/19/4/319
What substances that are not reabsorbed by blood after it passed through the kidneys?
( can u please rite back to me with the correct answer)
Luis -- please click Post a New Question and type your question.
Certainly! Acid can have several effects on DNA, depending on the strength and concentration of the acid. The main effect of acids on DNA is denaturation, which means breaking the hydrogen bonds that hold the DNA strands together. This results in the separation of the two DNA strands and the disruption of the double helix structure.
To understand how acid affects DNA, it's important to know the basic structure of DNA. DNA is made up of two strands, which are composed of nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (adenine, guanine, cytosine, or thymine). The two strands of DNA are held together by hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous bases, with adenine pairing with thymine and guanine pairing with cytosine.
When acid is introduced to DNA, the high concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) can disrupt the hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous bases. This causes the two DNA strands to separate, resulting in denaturation. Denaturation is not always permanent, as the DNA strands can reanneal or come back together under the right conditions.
It's worth mentioning that the strength and concentration of the acid play a crucial role. Strong acids, such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, or nitric acid, are highly corrosive and can cause significant damage to DNA. However, weaker acids, like acetic acid (found in vinegar), may have a less severe impact.
In conclusion, acids can denature DNA by breaking the hydrogen bonds between the nucleotides, leading to the separation of the two DNA strands, and disrupting the double helix structure.