No, DNA is not single-stranded; it is double-stranded.
The Double Helix Structure of DNA
The groundbreaking work that revealed DNA's structure demonstrated its double-stranded nature. The following points highlight key aspects of this discovery:
- Early X-ray Diffraction Studies: Initial x-ray diffraction results suggested DNA was composed of two strands arranged in a helical structure.
- Double-Stranded Significance: As stated in the provided reference, the observation that DNA was double-stranded "was of crucial significance and provided one of the major clues that led to the Watson-Crick structure of DNA."
- Watson-Crick Model: James Watson and Francis Crick built upon these findings to propose the double helix model, solidifying the understanding of DNA as a double-stranded molecule.
Therefore, the double helix is the defining structural feature of DNA.
