say the least, but throughout this section I will simplify the bare basics as much as possible. Don’t worry if you don’t track with every step; key points will be emphasized along the way to help you grasp the big picture. The DNA molecule is a double helix, a shape that could be roughly described as a coiled ladder; the sides or “backbone” of the ladder are made up of molecules called phosphates and ring-shaped sugars called ribose. These phosphates and sugars are linked together in a sort of chain-like