2010 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript

This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2010. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.

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What is the difference between between a 3' and 5' end?
     Jeff Schloss, Ph.D.: Jeff Schloss is a program director in the extramural division of NHGRI. Developing technology for sequencing complete human genomes for $1000 or less is the centerpiece of his technology development programs, and he also leads the Centers of Excellence in Genomic Science program. Jeffs formal science training is in cell and molecular biology. DNA has polarity. Kind of like your head is different from your toes (at least I hope so!). Remember that each nucleotide consists of a base, a sugar and a phosphate? In a DNA strand the base is "exposed" on the 5' end and the -OH group on the sugar is exposed on the 3' end.
St. Mark's School in MA (12th grade student)

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