What type of charge does DNA possess?

DNA possesses a negative charge due to the phosphate groups present in its backbone. Each phosphate group is negatively charged, and since DNA is a polymer of nucleotides, the overall structure retains this negative charge. This characteristic is significant when considering how DNA behaves in various biological processes, such as in gel electrophoresis, where the negative charge causes the molecules to migrate toward the positive electrode. The understanding of this property is crucial for applications in genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnology, where manipulation and analysis of DNA are often required.