Komplementtisäie

Komplementtisäie refers to the complementary strand of nucleic acid in a double-stranded DNA or RNA molecule. Nucleic acids are composed of two chains, or strands, that are linked together. These strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between specific pairs of nucleotide bases. In DNA, adenine (A) always pairs with thymine (T), and guanine (G) always pairs with cytosine (C). In RNA, adenine (A) pairs with uracil (U), and guanine (G) pairs with cytosine (C).

The sequence of bases on one strand dictates the sequence of bases on the other strand. This specific base pairing is known as complementarity. For example, if one strand of DNA has the sequence 5'-ATGC-3', its complementary strand will have the sequence 3'-TACG-5'. This complementary relationship is fundamental to DNA replication and transcription. During replication, enzymes use one strand as a template to synthesize a new complementary strand, ensuring accurate duplication of genetic information. Similarly, during transcription, a complementary RNA strand is synthesized using a DNA template. The antiparallel nature of the strands, meaning they run in opposite directions (one 5' to 3' and the other 3' to 5'), is also crucial for their interaction and the biological processes involving them. The concept of komplementtisäie is therefore central to understanding how genetic information is stored, copied, and expressed.