The Double Helix Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Double Helix - Essay Example As a result, a replication of the original DNA is achieved with the parent and daughter molecules having exactly the same properties. The double helix in the complementary based pairing therefore ensures that daughter molecules derive exactly the same characteristics as the parent molecules (Teerikorpi, Valtonen, Lehto, Byrd and Chernin, 2008). The phrase, ‘two strands of DNA in the double helix are antiparallel,’ means that the strands run in opposite directions. This is because of properties of the different structures of the strands that ensure the opposite directions for bonding in the double helix strands (Strachan, 2003). If the strands were parallel, the ends of the double helix strands would have similar properties. This would result from the strands pairing with both strands aligned in the same direction as opposed to the opposite directional stranding of the ‘antiparallel’ double helix strands (Behr,