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'''Deoxyribonucleic acid''' (DNA) is a biomolecular polymer of [[nucleotide|deoxyribonucleotides]].  It exists most commonly as a double-stranded helix comprising two anti-parallel complimentary DNA molecules held together by hydrogen bonds, this is commonly annotated as "dsDNA" (double-stranded DNA)<ref>Single-stranded DNAs (ssDNA) do exist in nature (notably, certain bacteriophages possess ssDNA genomes), however ssDNAs cannot be replicated without first synthesizing the complimentary strand to use as a template.</ref>.  The  [[nucleotide]]s which are the "building blocks" of DNA consist of three principle parts: A nitrogenous base (the "letters" in the sequence), a [[sugar]], and a [[phosphate]] group.  When nucleotides are polymerized into DNA strands, they are bonded together in a chain, with the phosphate group of one nucleotide binding to the ribose of the next.

'''Deoxyribonucleic acid''' (DNA) is a molecular [[polymer]] formed of [[nucleotide|deoxyribonucleotides]].  Most commonly as a double-stranded [[helix]] comprising two complimentary molecules held together by hydrogen bonds, this is commonly called "dsDNA" (double-stranded DNA)<ref>Single-stranded DNAs (ssDNA) do exist in certain [[bacteriophage]]s, however they cannot be replicated without first creating the complimentary strand to use as a template.</ref>.  The  [[nucleotide]]s which are the "building blocks" of DNA have three main parts: A nitrogenous base (the "letters" in the sequence), a [[sugar]], and a [[phosphate]] group.  When nucleotides are joined into DNA strands, they form a chain with the phosphate group of one nucleotide binding to the ribose of the next.

Complimentary DNA strands "compliment" each other by having compatible sequences, allowing the nitrogenous bases on one strand to form hydrogen bonds with the corresponding (complimentary) bases on the other strand.  There are four nitrogenous bases, Adenonine (A), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G), and Thymine (T).  Under the base pairing rules, A pairs with T and G pairs with C.

DNA strands "compliment" each other by having compatible sequences, allowing the bases on one strand to form bonds with the bases on the other strand.  There are four nitrogenous bases, Adenonine (A), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G), and Thymine (T).  Under the base pairing rules, A pairs with T and G pairs with C.

DNA contains [[gene]]s that encode for [[protein]]s, which are produced by the DNA first being transcribed into m[[RNA]] and then translated into polypeptides (this process is called the [[Central dogma of molecular biology|central dogma]] of molecular biology). All organisms (plants, animals, bacteria, etc.) use DNA as their hereditary material. Offspring of sexually reproducing organisms contain DNA from both parents.

DNA contains [[gene]]s that encode for [[protein]]s. These are produced by the DNA first being turned into m[[RNA]] and then into polypeptides (this process is called the [[Central dogma of molecular biology|central dogma]] of molecular biology). All organisms use DNA as their hereditary material. Offspring of sexually reproducing organisms contain DNA from both parents.

==History==

==History==