NUCLEIC ACIDSSBI 3C1

Nucleic Acids

Associated with genetic/hereditary information

There are 2 different types of nucleic acids:1. DNA - Deoxyribonucleic Acid2. RNA - Ribonucleic Acid

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

In order for life to go on for generations, organisms need to transmit genetic material to the next generation.

Chromosomes in all organisms are made up of the same chemical called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

DNA is the hereditary material that contains all the information a cell needs to live.

Nucleotides DNA and RNA = polymers made up of

monomers called NUCLEOTIDES

Basic Structure of a Nucleotide:

Nucleotides are made up of 3 parts:

1. Sugar - deoxyribose sugar (DNA) ribose sugar (RNA)

2. Phosphate group

3. Nitrogenous base There are 4 different types of bases:

1) Adenine (A)2) Guanine (G)3) Thymine (T) - DNA / Uracil (U) - RNA4) Cytosine (C)

Structure of DNA DNA is made up of two

long nucleotide strands wound around each other like a circular staircase.

This structure is called a “double helix”

The bases of the two strands bond together forming the “stairs”.

Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)

Single stranded polymer of nucleotides

RNA is the genetic material that carries the genetic information contained in DNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm

Complimentary Base Pairing The base-pairing is always consistent:

A – T in DNA and A – U in RNA C – G in DNA and RNA

Hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) exist between the complementary base-pairs and act to hold the two strands of the DNA molecule together: A – T have 2 H bonds between them C – G have 3 H-bonds between them

DNA vs. RNACHARACTERISTIC DNA RNA

Length of molecule DNA is significantly larger - contains a lot

of genetic info

RNA is much smaller -carries info of one gene

for one protein at a time

Number of Strands 2 1

Locations found in cell Nucleus only – too large to leave it

Nucleus & cytoplasm –travels between both

as new proteins are needed

Nitrogenous Bases Used

A, T, C, G A, U, C, G

Sugar Used Deoxyribose Ribose

DNA vs.

RNA