DNA Structure and RNA Synthesis Overview

DNA

deoxyribose Nucleic Acid

Deoxyribose

sugar

Nucleotide

made of 1 phosphate, 1 pentose sugar (5C), and a nitrogen base

Purines

Adenine and guanine, which have a double ring structure

Pyrimidines

Cytosine and thymine, which have a single ring structure

Complementary base pairs

A pairs with T and G pairs with C

RNA

Ribonucleic acid

Types of RNA

mRNA - messenger RNA, rRNA - ribosomal RNA, tRNA - transfer RNA

Transcription

create a message of DNA into RNA for mRNA

Translation

convert the message into protein

DNA vs. RNA

DNA has deoxyribose sugar, is double stranded, and contains ATGC; RNA has ribose sugar, is single stranded, and contains uracil instead of thymine

DNA Replication

Occurs in the nucleus during the S phase