nucleic acids

what are nucleic acids

• macromolecules that store genetic info

• role in directing production of proteins and inheritance of characteristics of an individual

2 Main Types: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)
(dna and rna are nucleic acids)

Nucleic Acid- DNA (monomer, polymer, and what each monomer contains)

(DNA and RNA are nucleic acids)

monomer: nucleotide

polymer: nucleic acid

Each nucleotide up of:

• 5 carbon sugar

• Phosphate group

• Nitrogenous base

  

DNA- Deoxyribose sugar:

• Dna contains 5-carbon sugar- deoxyribose

• C5H10O4

• Has one less oxygen than RNA sugar ribose

Forms backbone with phosphate groups

Nitrogenous Bases (DNA)

• Two ring bases (purines)- Guanine (G), Adenine (A)

• One ring bases (pyrimidines) - Cytosine(C), Thymine (T)

(pairs: AT, GC)

DNA Molecules formed by:

backbones made of:

Nitrogenous base formed by _____

Dna molecules are formed by two complementary strands (like A and T) interacting to form a double helix “ladder”

The sugars and phosphate groups form the backbone (outside)

The nitrogenous bases form the “rungs” that interact through hydrogen bonds

RNA Molecule (different than DNA)

1. Different sugar:

• Ribose sugar (C5H10O5) with one extra oxygen atom

2. Different nitrogenous base:

• Thymine is replaced by uracil

3. Different backbone:

• Single stranded with only one backbone not two

RNA function

RNA acts as a middleman between DNA and proteins.
It carries information from DNA and helps make specific proteins.