Deconstructing & Breaking Down DNA
Deoxy Definition1. without oxygen.
2. having less oxygen than the compound it is derived from. The definition of deoxy makes sense. Deoxy is De + oxygen. “De” means to remove as in detach, detoxify, debone, decrease, etc.
Deoxy means to remove oxygen. Ribo Definition
Ribo is the abbreviation of Ribose.
Ribose is the sugar compound.
Ribose provides the energy for processes to be carried out. Nucleic Definition
Nucleic means nucleus.
The term “nucleic” is used when talking about DNA because that is the first place DNA was found by so-called “scientists” – in the nucleus of the cell. Nucleic also serves as an abbreviation for nucleotide.
Nucleotide refers to a compound found in the nucleus. Acid Definition
DNA contains a phosphate compound. This phosphate compound is an acid.
DNA takes on the name of acid for this reason, even though DNA contains other nucleic compounds that could also serve as names. Acid was chosen as part of the name of DNA, mostly as a matter of preference of the person who first named DNA. DNA is composed of three nucleic compounds called nucleotides:
1. Deoxyribose nucleotide (nucleic sugar)
2. Nitrogen nucleotide (nucleic base)
3. Acid phosphate nucleotide (nucleic acid)
Summary
Nowhere in the name of DNA does DNA mean two, double or double-stranded or curved like a spiral ladder. There is single-stranded DNA and double-stranded RNA. DNA is created when ribonucleic acid (RNA) is deoxygenated.DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid.
DNA is de-oxygen-ribose-nucleotide acid. In other words, DNA is single stranded because RNA is single stranded.
DNA must exist as a single strand before it can exist as a double strand.
This must be so because it is not the “double” aspect of the helix that makes DNA, DNA. Consider the case of protein. Protein exists in multiple forms (formations and structures). Despite their many forms, proteins are all still proteins. It is not the structure of proteins that makes a protein, a protein. Consider the case of cells. Cells exist in multiple forms and structures. Despite their many forms, cells are all still cells. It is not the structure of cells that makes a cell, a cell. Likewise then, it is not the structure of DNA that makes DNA, DNA. It is the molecular components, the compounds. We know the double stranded helix does not make DNA, DNA.
Sometimes DNA separates from each other and sometimes it straightens itself out. Even in these forms, it is still DNA. It is not the structure of DNA that makes DNA, DNA. It is the molecular components, the compounds. Finally then, we must recognize DNA is the deoxgenated form of RNA.
The double helix of DNA is two strands of deoxy-ribonucleic acid.
DNA is a form of RNA.
Therefore, a more appropriate abbreviation for DNA is dRNA.
