The formation of a phosphodiester bond connects the nucleotides in a DNA strand by linking the 5' phosphate group of one nucleotide to the 3' hydroxyl group of another nucleotide. This bond plays a crucial role in the overall structure and function of DNA.Structure:1. The phosphodiester bond forms the backbone of the DNA strand, providing a stable and continuous connection between the nucleotides. This backbone is composed of alternating sugar and phosphate groups, with the nitrogenous bases adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine projecting outwards from the sugar molecules.2. The phosphodiester bonds in DNA are negatively charged due to the presence of phosphate groups. This negative charge contributes to the overall stability of the DNA molecule, as it allows the DNA to interact with positively charged ions such as magnesium that help neutralize the charge and stabilize the structure.3. The phosphodiester bonds also provide directionality to the DNA strand. Each strand has a 5' end with a free phosphate group and a 3' end with a free hydroxyl group . This directionality is essential for various cellular processes, such as DNA replication and transcription.Function:1. The phosphodiester bonds provide the necessary stability and integrity to the DNA molecule, allowing it to store and transmit genetic information accurately. The stable backbone ensures that the DNA molecule can withstand various cellular processes and environmental factors without breaking or losing its genetic information.2. The phosphodiester bonds also play a role in the process of DNA replication. During replication, the DNA strands are separated, and new complementary strands are synthesized by DNA polymerase enzymes. These enzymes recognize the directionality of the DNA strand 5' to 3' and synthesize the new strand accordingly, ensuring accurate replication of genetic information.3. In transcription, the process of converting DNA into RNA, the phosphodiester bonds again provide directionality for the RNA polymerase enzyme to synthesize the RNA molecule in the 5' to 3' direction.In summary, phosphodiester bonds are essential for connecting nucleotides in a DNA strand, providing stability, directionality, and facilitating crucial cellular processes such as DNA replication and transcription.