What knowledge have you connected with past knowledge?

The replication of DNA is a very unique and important process. Understanding the components of the DNA is a huge part of understanding how it works. It was said in every biology class that DNA replicates from 5' to 3' but it was never clear why. In biochemistry, the understanding of nucleotides and the molecules on each end puts everything together. The sugar phosphate backbone contains a 5' end that has the free phosphate group. The 3' end contains a free O- group. DNA polymerase can only add a nucleotide on the 3' end that has the O-. As DNA and RNA replicate, the 5' C end of a nucleotide will attach to the 3' C end of another nucleotide by a phosphodiester bond. Also the differences between DNA and RNA were more clear as knowledge was gainded in biochemistry. RNA contains an OH group on the 2' C and DNA contains only an H on the 2' C. The basic understanding allows scientists to manipulate DNA in our favor as well as move forward in research for new information.