NUCLEIC ACIDS

- DNA is a polynucleotide, usually double stranded,

made up of nucleotides with bases A,T,C and G.

- RNA is a polynucleotide, usually single stranded made

up of nucleotides containing the bases A,U,C and G.

DNA
RNA
Protein

NUCLEIC ACIDS

1)
2)

They come in two forms:

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
RNA (Ribonucleic acid)

DNA in eukaryotic cells are found in the nucleus,

acting as a information store.

CONTINUED

Nucleic acids are composed of monomers called

a nucleotide.
A nucleotide is composed of 3 subunits:

One phosphate group;

One sugar molecule ;
One organic nitrogenous base.
These subunits are joined by covalent bonds to
form a nucleotide molecule.

BASE TYPES

FEATURES OF NUCLEOTIDES
DNA

RNA

Same phosphate group

Same phosphate group

5-carbon sugar normally

deoxyribose

5-carbon sugar normally ribose

Base pairs Guanine, Cytosine,

Adenine and Thymine

Base pairs, Guanine, Adenine,

Cytosine and Uracil.

JOINING NUCLEOTIDES

A condensation reaction between the phosphate

group of one nucleotide and the sugar of another
join the two together.
This forms chains called the Backbone. Organic
bases will project from this, and it is this
sequence of bases that forms coded information of
nucleic acid.

DNA STRUCTURE

WHAT'S THE
QUESTION?
Nucleotide

1
WHAT'S THE
QUESTION?
Adenine

2
WHAT'S THE

DNAQUESTION?
Polymerase
16

3
WHAT'S THE

Gene

QUESTION?

17

4
WHAT'S THE

mRNA

QUESTION?

18

5
WHAT'S THE
QUESTION?
Transription
19

6
WHAT'S THE

Uracil

QUESTION?

20

8
WHAT'S THE
QUESTION?
Hydrogen
bonds
21

9
WHAT'S THE

Ribose

QUESTION?

22

10
WHAT'S THE
QUESTION?
Guanine
23