Nucleic Acids
LS Molecular
Nucleic Acids
Nucleic Acids are single or double stranded
chains of nucleotides joined by sugarphosphate bonds (e.g. DNA & RNA).
Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides in
which the sugar of one nucleotide is joined to the
phosphate of the next nucleotide.
Nucleotides
Nucleotides are small organic molecules
that function as...
•energy carriers
•chemical messengers
•subunits of DNA and RNA
Nucleotides
Adenine = A
Thymine = T
Cytosine = C
Guanine = G
Uracil = U
Nucleotides
ATP is an RNA adenine nucleotide with
three phosphate groups attached. ATP is
involved in energy transfer.
base: adenine
3 phosphate
groups
sugar: ribose
Ribonucleic Acid
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is responsible for
making proteins. RNA is composed of four
nucleotide monomers (AUCG).
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contains
the genetic instructions used in the
development and functioning of all known
living organisms and some viruses.
Nucleotide
Hydrogen
bonds
Sugar-phosphate
backbone
Key
Adenine (A)
Thymine (T)
Cytosine (C)
Guanine (G)
DNA Structure
DNA is a Double Helix
composed of two strands of
nucleotide polymers.
Complementary Bases
DNA bases are complementary.
Adenine always pairs with Thymine
Cytosine always pairs with Guanine
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
DNA is a code; the order of the bases
determines the genetic information.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
DNA = Genes = Traits