DNA and RNA Structure

AP Biology· difficulty 1/5

What does the antiparallel orientation of the DNA strands mean?

A
$The two strands run in the same direction.$
B
$The strands separate completely with each replication.$
C
$One strand runs 5' to 3' while its complement runs 3' to 5'.$
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D
$Strands are joined by covalent bonds at their bases.$

Explanation

DNA strands are antiparallel: their phosphodiester backbones run in opposite 5' to 3' directions, a structural requirement for complementary base-pairing and replication by DNA polymerase.

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