Why Is DNA Considered Large Compared to a Hydrogen Atom?

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SUMMARY

DNA is significantly larger than a hydrogen atom, with even small strands of DNA being millions of times larger. DNA is composed of nucleobases: adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine, which are built from chemical elements including carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. The human body is classified as "carbon-based" due to the fundamental role of carbon chemistry in biological processes, despite being primarily composed of water (H2O).

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of nucleobases: adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine
  • Basic knowledge of chemical elements: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen
  • Familiarity with the concept of molecular size comparison
  • Knowledge of carbon chemistry and its significance in biology
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the structure and function of nucleobases in DNA
  • Learn about the role of carbon in organic chemistry
  • Explore the properties of water as a solvent in biochemical reactions
  • Investigate molecular size comparisons in biological macromolecules
USEFUL FOR

Students of biology, chemists, and anyone interested in understanding the molecular basis of life and the significance of carbon in biological systems.

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How large is the smallest piece of DNA compared to a hydrogen atom? What chemical elements go into the average strand of DNA? If the human body is mostly H2O, then why are we considered "carbon-based" lifeforms?
 
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1. DNA is not "one size" - it is an enormously long chain made of small building blocks: adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine. Even small strands of DNA are millions of time larger than a single atom.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleobase

2. See the URL above: Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen

3. All of what we are depends on carbon chemistry, water is the medium for the reactions. Sometimes water is bound up into the chemicals created or is released as a product of the reaction.
 

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