Effect Of Heat On DNA Viscosity

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Effect Of Heat On DNA Viscosity
Gray Kueberuwa
Background

• DNA is held together by three types of
  interactions
• Phosphodiester bonds that join strand nucleotides
• Hydrophobic interactions between bases
• Hydrogen bonds between bases in the two strands

Theory
Heating will provide thermal energy, breaking
hydrogen bonds
DNA Double Helix Structure
which will allow the two strands to dissociate,
this will make the DNA dissolved less bulky
reducing the viscosity of the solution
Hydrogen Bonding Of DNA Base Pairs
Null Hypothesis
Heating a solution of DNA has no effect on its
viscosity
Results
Denaturing of DNA occurs over a small
temperature, the midpoint Can be referred to as
the Tm. Melting occurs over a small range
suggesting breaking of hydrogen bonds makes the
process progressively easier.
The Separation Of DNA Strands Is A Co-operative
Process