Page 56 - If Darwin Had Known about DNA

Harun Yahya

54

Phosphate Sugar

Cytosine Adenine Thymine

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The dual backbones of the long
DNA molecule –or the banisters of
Hydrogen Links r›
the staircase– are very strong,
made up of consecutive sugar
and phosphate molecules. These
molecules attach to one another
with a special bond known as ester
covalent bonds. These are exception-
ally strong and it is very difficult to
break them. This strength provides pro-
tection against harmful factors that
33
might impair genetic information. The
existence of these bonds makes the
DNA molecule resistant and stable even
while the DNA molecule is in a single-
strand form.
However, there is a risk of damage to
the DNA spiral structure as the coils unfold.
For that reason, the spiral needs to be strong and stable enough to pro-
tect its structure but also elastic enough to be opened up very quickly
so that the information can be easily used. In fact, a combination of
powerful covalent bonds that protect DNA's basic molecular structure
of, and weaker hydrogen bonds that can be broken more quickly, ena-
bles the elasticity-solidity problem to be overcome. Since the hydrogen