NUCLEIC ACIDS

Nucleus of a living cell is responsible for this transmission of inherent characters, alsocalled
heredity.The particles in nucleus of the cell, responsible for heredity, are called
chromosomes which are made up of proteins and another type of biomolecules called nucleic
acids. These are mainly of two types, the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic
acid(RNA). Since nucleic acids are long chain polymers of nucleotides, so they are also called
polynucleotides.

Complete hydrolysis of DNA (or RNA) yields a pentose sugar, phosphoricacid and nitrogen
containing heterocyclic compounds (called bases).

DNA (DEOXYRIBOSE NUCLEIC ACIDS) & RNA (RIBOSE NUCLEIC ACIDS)

DNA RNA
It contains β-D-2-deoxyribose sugar. It Containsβ-D-ribose sugar.
It Contains adenine (A), guanine (G), It Contains adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C),
cytosine (C) and thymine (T) as bases. uracil (U). as bases
It has double helix structure It has single helix structure
It Can replicate It Cannot replicate
It is responsible for inheritance of It is responsible for protein synthesis.
character
It is present in the nucleus cell. It is present in the cytoplasm of the cell.

STRUCTURE OF NUCLEIC ACIDS

1. NUCLEOSIDES:A unit formed by the attachment of a base to 1’position of sugar is
known as nucleoside
Base + Sugar → Nucleosides
 2 NUCLEOTIDES : When nucleoside is linked to phosphoric acid at 5′-position of sugar
moiety, we get a nucleotide.
Base + Sugar + phosphoric acid → Nucleotides.

PRIMARY STRUCTURE OF A NUCLEIC ACID: Information regarding the sequence of

nucleotides in the chain is of a nucleic acid is called its primary structure.

SECONDARY STRUCTURE OF A NUCLEIC ACID:

• James Watson and Francis Crick gave a double strand helix structure for DNA .Two
nucleic acid chains are wound about each other and held together by hydrogen bonds
between pairs of bases. The two strands are complementary to each other because
the hydrogen bonds are formed between specific pairs of bases. Adenine forms
hydrogen bonds with thymine whereas cytosine forms hydrogen bonds with guanine.
• In secondary structure of RNA, helices are present which areonly single stranded.
Sometimes they fold back on themselves toform a double helix structure. RNA
molecules are of three typesand they perform different functions.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF RNA:

RNA molecules are of three typesand they perform different functions. They are named as
messengerRNA (m-RNA), ribosomal RNA (r-RNA) and transfer RNA(t-RNA).

STRUCTURE OF DNA AND RNA

NITROGENEOUS BASE IN DNA AND RNA
MCQs-
Q1. In DNA, the complementary bases are:
a. Uracil, Adenine; Cytocine, guanine
b. Adenine, thymine; guanine, cytosine
c. Adenine, thymine; guanine, uracil
d. Adenine, guanine; thymine, cytosine

Q2. The segment of DNA which acts as the instrumental manual for the synthesis of the
protein is :
a. Nucleoside b. Nucleotide
c. Ribose d. Gene

Q3. The pyrimidine bases present in DNA are

a. Cytosine and adenine b. Cytosine and guanine
c. Cytosine and thymine d. Cytosine and uracil

Q4. Which one of the following is not a type of RNA:

a. Transverse RNA b. Messenger RNA
c. Ribosomal RNA d. Transfer RNA

Q5. Which of the following base is not present in DNA

a. Thymine b. Uracil
c. Adenine d. Guanine
Q6. Pyrimidine bases present in RNA are
a. Adenine and guanine b. Thymine and Uracil
c. Uracil and Cytosine d. Thymine and Cytosine

Q7. RNA and DNA are chiral molecules. Their chirality is due to
a. D–sugar component b. L–sugar component
c. chiral bases d. chiral phosphate ester units

Q8. The correct statement regarding RNA & DNA, respectively is -

a. The sugar component in RNA is 2’–deoxyribose and in DNA is Arabinose
b. The sugar component in RNA is Arabinose and is DNA in 2’–deoxyribose
c. The sugar component in RNA is Ribose and is DNA in 2’–deoxyribose
d. The sugar component in RNA is 2’–deoxyribose and in DNA is Ribose

Q9. The presence or absence of hydroxyl group on which carbon atom of sugar differentiate
RNA and DNA
(a) 2nd (b) 4th
(c) 3rd (d)1st

Q10. The pair of bases in DNA are held together by

a)Ionic bonds
b)H- bond
c)phosphate bond
d)deoxyribose group

Q11. Dinucleotide is obtained by joining two nucleotides together by phosphodiester

linkage. Between which carbon atoms of pentose sugars of nucleotides are these linkages
present?
a. 5′ and 3′
b. 1′ and 5′
c. 5′ and 5′
d. 3′ and 3′

Q12. Nucleic acids are the polymers of

a. Nucleosides
b. Nucleotides
c. Bases
d. Sugars

Q.12. DNA and RNA contain four bases each. Which of the following bases is not present in
RNA?
a. Adenine
b. Uracil
c. Thymine
d. Cytosine

Q.14. Which of the following bases is not present in DNA?

a. Adenine
b. Thymine
c. Cytosine
d. Uracil

Q. 15 Nucleotides are joined together by:

a. Glycosidic linkage b) Phosphodiester linkage
c. Hydrogen bonds d)Weak intermolecular forces

Q. 16 Which of the following bases pairs with guanine?

(a) Adenine (b) Guanine (c) Cytosine (d)Thymine

Q17. The nitrogenous base is linked to the ribose or deoxyribose sugar via a
(a) Glycosidic bond (b) Amide bond
(c) Hydrogen bond (d) Phosphodiester bond

Q18. In double helix of DNA, the two DNA strands show which type of characteristics?
(a) Coiled around a common axis (b) Coiled around each other
(c) Coiled differently (d) Coiled over protein sheath

Q19. Complete hydrolysis of nucleic acid yield:

(a) Bases (b) Phosphoric acid
(c) Pentose sugar (d) All of these

Q20. Which base is present in RNA but not in DNA?

(a) Uracil ( b) Cytosine (c) Guanine (d) Thymine

Q21. Match the following and choose the correct answer given below.
Column I Column II
(a) Nucleoside (P) Cytosine, Thiamine and Uracil
(b)DNA (Q) Adenine and guanine
(c) Pyrimidine base (R) The nitrogenous base, pentose sugar and phosphate unit
(d) Purine base (S) Watson and Crick
(e) Nucleotide (T) The nitrogenous base and a pentose sugar.
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
A) T S P Q R
B) T S Q R P
C) R Q P T S
D) R T S P Q

Q.22. Given below are two statements labelled as Assertion (A) and Reason (R)
1. Assertion (A): The genetic codes are comma less.
Reason (R): There are two types of nitrogenous base
Select the most appropriate answer from the options given below
(a) Both A and R are true and the R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.

Q.23. Assertion (A): The two strands of DNA are parallel.

Reason (R): The phenomenon of mutation is chemical change in DNA molecule.
Select the most appropriate answer from the options given below
(a) Both A and R are true and the R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.

Q.24. Assertion (A): RNA molecules are of three types.

Reason (R): messenger RNA, Ribosomal RNA and transfer RNA
Select the most appropriate answer from the options given below
(a) Both A and R are true and the R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.

Q.25. Assertion (A): Nucleotides are joined together to form polynucleotide.

Reason (R): The linkage present between nucleotides is hydrogen bond.
Select the most appropriate answer from the options given below
(a) Both A and R are true and the R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
Q.26. Assertion (A): RNA is double stranded.
Reason (R): The base Thymine is absent in RNA
Select the most appropriate answer from the options given below
(a) Both A and R are true and the R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.

Q.27. Assertion (A) The two strands of DNA are complementary.

Reason (R) The base sequence of one strand can be predicted by knowing base
sequence of other strand.
Select the most appropriate answer from the options given below
(a) Both A and R are true and the R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.

CASE : Read the passage given below and answer the following questions
DNA is the short form of 2-deoxyribonucleic acid, which is inside of every cell in your body.
It’s a chain of chemical compounds that join together to form permanent blueprints for life.
These compounds are called bases, and there are 4 of them. They pair up with another to
form what are called base pairs. Your DNA has about 3 billion of these couples. The way
they’re strung together tells your cells how to make copies of each other.
The complete set of your compounds is known as a genome. More than 99.9 % of everyone’s
genome is exactly alike (100% if you are identical twins). But the tiny bit that’s not is what
makes you physically and mentally different from someone else.
DNA finger printing involves use of chemicals to separate strands of DNA and then the
isolation reveals the unique parts of your genome. The results show up as a pattern of stripes
that can be matched against other samples.
Since it was invented in 1984, by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys after he realised you could detect
variations in human DNA, in the form of minisatellites. Minisatellites are short sequences
(10-60 base pairs) long of repetitive DNA that show greater variation from one person to the
next than other parts of the genome. DNA fingerprinting most often has been used in court
cases and legal matters. It can:
• Physically connect a piece of evidence to a person or rule out someone as a suspect.
• Show who your parents, siblings, and other relatives may be.
• Identify a dead body that’s too old or damaged to be recognizable.
DNA fingerprinting is extremely accurate. Most countries now keep DNA records on file in
much the same way police keep copies of actual fingerprints.
It also has medical uses. It can:
• Match tissues of organ donors with those of people who need transplants.
• Identify diseases that are passed down through your family.
• Help find cures for those diseases, called hereditary conditions.

Q.28 Which of the following can be biological samples for DNA fingerprinting?
(A) Blood
(B) Hair
(C) Saliva
(D) All of them

Q.29 When DNA is recovered from cells or tissues then this step in DNA fingerprinting is
________
(A) Isolation of DNA
(B) Collection of DNA
(C) Centrifugation of DNA
(D) Formation of DNA

Q.30 Percentage of DNA do identical twins share in common

(A) 99.9%
(B) 100%
(C) 90%
(D) 50%
Q.31 The DNA fingerprint pattern of a child is
(A) Exactly similar to that of both of the parents.
(B) 100% similar to the father’s DNA print.
(C) 100% similar to the father’s DNA print.
(D) 50% bands similar to father and rest similar to mother.

ANALOGY BASED QUESTIONS

Q.32 Which of the following analogy is correct in reference with
Adenine : Thymine Two hydrogen bond

(A) Adenine : Uracil Two Hydrogen bonds

(B) Guanine: Cytocine Three hydrogen bonds
(C) Adenine : Guanine Three hydrogen bonds
(D) Guanine: Uracil Three hydrogen bonds.

Q.33 which of the given options is correct with respect to the given pair
DNA : 2- deoxyribose
(A) RNA: Ribose
(B) RNA : uracil
(C) RNA : Thymine
(D) RNA : 2-deoxy ribose.
ANSWER KEY

1 B 17 A
2 D 18 A
3 C 19 D
4 A 20 A
5 B 21 A
6 C 22 B
7 A 23 D
8 C 24 A
9 A 25 C
10 B 26 D
11 A 27 A
12 B 28 D
13 C 29 A
14 D 30 B
15 B 31 D
16 A 32 B
33 A