Chapter 3: Nucleic Acids

Nucleic Acid

An organic macromolecule composed of nucleotides. The two types are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA)

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

1. The genetic material that provides the blueprint for the organization development, and functions of living things

2. At the molecular level, this consists of two strands of nucleotides coiled around each other to form a double helix, held together by hydrogen bonds according to the AT/GC rule

Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)

One of two classes of nucleic acids. It consists of a single strand of nucleotides

Nucleotide

An organic molecule having three components: one or more phosphate groups, a five-carbon sugar (either deoxyribose or ribose), and a single or double ring of carbon and nitrogen atoms known as a base

Deoxyribose

A five-carbon sugar found in DNA

Purine

Either of the bases adenine (A) and guanine (G), which have a fused double ring of carbon and nitrogen atoms

Adenine (A)

A purine base found in DNA and RNA

Guanine (G)

A purine base found in RNA and DNA

Pyrimidine

Any of the bases thymine (T), cytosine (C), and uracil (U), which have a single ring of carbon and nitrogen atoms

Cytosine (C)

A pyrimidine base found in DNA and RNA

Thymine (T)

A pyrimidine base found in DNA

Ribose

A five-carbon sugar found in RNA