DNAþráður

DNAþráður is the Icelandic term for a DNA strand. Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses. A DNA strand is a single, unbranched chain of nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), or thymine (T).

These bases are the "letters" of the genetic code. The sequence of these bases along the DNAþráður determines the genetic information. In nature, DNA typically exists as a double helix, which is formed by two complementary DNA strands wound around each other. The two strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between the bases, where adenine always pairs with thymine (A-T) and guanine always pairs with cytosine (G-C). While a DNAþráður refers to a single strand, the biological significance often lies in the double-stranded structure and the information encoded within the sequence of its bases. Understanding the structure and composition of a DNAþráður is fundamental to comprehending genetics, molecular biology, and heredity.