What name is given to DNA that refers to its 2-sided spiraling shape?

• A. Helical Strand
• B. Single Helix
• C. Triple Helix
• D. Double Helix

Answer: (D)

DNA's two-sided spiraling shape is described as a double helix. This means two long strands, each with a sugar-phosphate backbone, run in opposite directions and twist around each other into a right-handed spiral. The bases pair between the strands, holding them together, so the structure is stable and can be accurately copied during replication. The term double helix emphasizes both the presence of two intertwined chains and the characteristic spiral twist. A single strand lacks the complementary pairing needed for replication, and a triple helix is not the standard form of DNA in cells.