Elements

present in
Biomolecules
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Nucleic acids (polynucleotides) –
responsible for the transmission of
genetic information and energy among
cells.

These are composed of three main

parts: the nitrogen base pairs, the
five carbon sugar molecule (pentose),
and the phosphate group
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 Chemical structure of a Nucleotide
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Types of nucleic acids
1. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
2. Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

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The nitrogen base pairs are divided
into two categories: pyrimidines and
purines (makes up the middle
structure of the DNA and RNA)

Pyrimidines (cytosine & thymine) –

cyclical chemical structures composed
of carbo and nitrogen atoms forming
a hexagon
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The nitrogen base pairs are divided
into two categories: pyrimidines and
purines (makes up the middle
structure of the DNA and RNA)

Purines ( adenine & guanine ) –

consist of two cyclic carbon chains
and a nitrogen atom attached
together
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Pentose – a five carbon-carbon sugar
chain that comprises one side of the
nucleotide structure.

RNA contain the pentose called

ribose – a sugar molecule that
contains five oxygen atoms bonded to
carbon atoms
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Pentose – a five carbon-carbon sugar
chain that comprises one side of the
nucleotide structure.

DNA contain the pentose called

deoxyribose – lacks one oxygen atom
from the supposed five oxygen atoms
bonded to carbon atoms
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Phosphate group – consist of ester
bonds, with the phosphorus atom
linked to four oxygen atoms.

It is bonded to the five-carbon

pentose ring and connects to the
phosphate group of other nucleotides
to complete the nucleic acid structure
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 Components Deoxyribonucleic Acid
(DNA)
Nitrogen Bases Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine,
Thymine
Pairing of Bases Adenine – Thymine and
Cytosine – Guanine
Type of Pentose molecule Deoxyribose – a modified sugar
molecule that lacks one oxygen
atom
Structure Double-stranded helix structure
made up of long nucleotide
chains built by a sugar-phosphate
backbone and nitrogen bases
Function Long-term storage and
transmission of genetic
information
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Ribonucleic Acid
(RNA)
Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine,
Uracil
Adenine – Uracil and
Cytosine – Guanine
Ribose – a sugar molecule with
one oxygen atom bonded to each
carbon atom
Single-stranded molecule with
half of a nitrogen base pair
attached to a slightly shorter
chain of the sugar-phosphate
backbone
Transmission of genetic codes
needed for protein synthesis from
the cell’s nucleus to the cell’s
ribosome, allowing DNA
information to remain in the
nucleus. 14
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