Final Answer:
The "sides" of the DNA ladder are made of sugar and phosphate.
The "rungs" of the DNA ladder are made of nitrogenous bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine) that pair up: A with T, and C with G.
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Explanation:
Think of DNA like a twisted ladder (that’s called a double helix).
- The “sides” of the ladder are made from alternating sugar and phosphate molecules. They’re like the rails of the ladder — strong and holding everything together.
- The “rungs” are the steps in the middle. These are made of pairs of special chemicals called bases. There are only 4 types: A, T, C, and G.
- A always pairs with T (like best friends), and C always pairs with G. That’s how the rungs stay connected.
So, sides = sugar + phosphate. Rungs = base pairs (A-T or C-G).
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Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of nucleic acids dna the double helix worksheet answers.
