Important Chemical Properties of DNA

"Melting" of DNA

Heat or Alkali changes the light absorption properties of DNA

 Heat or Alkali has little effect on single stranded DNA

The two strands of DNA separate because the Hydrogen bonds break.

Understanding the properties of DNA allows a much faster and easier way to determine the base ratios than used by E. Chargaff.

Can you suggest another method of determining base ratios?

The DNA strands will come back together slowly. The time-concentration analysis is called cot.

The "cot curve" for calf thymus is significantly different.

A detailed analysis of the calf thymus cot curve.

Can you suggest other uses of this reassociation ?

Text iGenetics by Peter J. Russell

This web site is provided for instruction in Botany and Zoology 342

by Kenneth G. Wilson,
Professor of Botany
Miami University
wilsonkg@muohio.edu