double helix
Twisted genetic ladder
A double helix is a structure of two spirals wound around the same axis, like a twisted ladder.
The term is most associated with DNA, whose molecular structure takes this form—two strands of genetic material coiling around each other.
Watson and Crick discovered the double helix in 1953.
Wound circular arrangement
- twistRotating motion or surprise
- windingCurving repeatedly, sinuous
- corkscrewTool for opening bottles
- intertwinedTwisted together, connected
coiled · right-handed · turn · rotation · axis · ladder · spiral staircase · entwined
Genetic code subunit
- base pairTwo matched nucleotides bonded
- adeninePurine nucleobase in DNA
- thymineDNA nitrogen base
- cytosinePyrimidine nucleobase in genetics
guanine · antiparallel · hydrogen bond · nucleic acid · RNA · DNA · codon · biopolymer
DNA strand carrying genes
- geneHereditary information unit
- genomeOrganism's total hereditary material
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
- transcriptionWritten version of speech
translation · polymerase · genomics · sequencing · mutation · recombination · allele · genotype
Common English surname
- FranklinSurname or locality
- CambridgeUniversity city, two countries
- 1953Mid-century year
- Nobel PrizeHighest academic honor
Wilkins · molecular biology · structure · model · breakthrough
Identifying individuals by DNA
- ancestryFamily line of descent
- forensicsScientific crime-scene analysis
- paternityMale parent status
- CRISPRGene-editing molecular machinery
cloning · biotech · gene therapy · GMO · Jurassic Park · Gattaca
coil
Wound circular arrangement
intertwined · coiled · right-handed · turn · rotation · axis · ladder · spiral staircase · entwined
nucleotide
Genetic code subunit
cytosine · guanine · antiparallel · hydrogen bond · nucleic acid · RNA · DNA · codon · biopolymer · angstrom
chromosome
DNA strand carrying genes
- geneHereditary information unit
- genomeOrganism's total hereditary material
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
transcription · translation · polymerase · genomics · sequencing · mutation · recombination · allele · genotype · phenotype
Watson
Common English surname
Wilkins · Nobel Prize · molecular biology · structure · model · breakthrough
genetic fingerprinting
Identifying individuals by DNA
CRISPR · cloning · biotech · gene therapy · GMO · Jurassic Park · Gattaca
- DNA AnalysisDNA, DNA profiling, DNA testing, DNA sequencing, DNA fingerprinting
- DNA ReplicationDNA replication, replication, DNA polymerase, Okazaki fragments, genome duplication
- DNA types
- scientific phrasesbig bang, black hole, natural selection, climate change, genetic code
- discoveriesbreakthrough, scientific discovery, finding, uncovering, detection
- spiralsspiral, logarithmic spiral, coil, whorl, swirl
double, doubled, doubling, doubles, helix, triple helix, redouble, redoubled, helical