Nucleic Acids: Structure and Composition

Study Notes

Nucleic acids are long-chain biomolecules composed of nucleotides
Each nucleotide consists of:
- A five-carbon sugar (deoxyribose in DNA, ribose in RNA)
- A phosphate group
- A nitrogenous base (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, or uracil)

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid):
- Double-stranded, helical structure
- Contains the genetic instructions for an organism
- Thymine (T) is one of the nitrogenous bases
RNA (Ribonucleic acid):
- Typically single-stranded, but can form complex secondary structures
- Involved in protein synthesis, gene regulation, and other cellular processes
- Uracil (U) replaces thymine (T) as one of the nitrogenous bases

Storage and transmission of genetic information:
- DNA contains the genetic code for an organism
- RNA plays a crucial role in transmitting genetic information from DNA to the ribosome
Protein synthesis:
- RNA molecules (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA) are involved in protein synthesis
- mRNA carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome
- tRNA brings amino acids to the ribosome
- rRNA forms part of the ribosome itself
Regulation of gene expression:
- RNA molecules (miRNA, siRNA) can regulate gene expression by binding to specific mRNA molecules

Nucleic acids are essential for life, as they contain the genetic instructions for an organism
Understanding nucleic acids has led to significant advances in fields such as genetics, genomics, and biotechnology

Nucleic acids are long-chain biomolecules composed of nucleotides
Each nucleotide consists of a five-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)
- Double-stranded, helical structure
- Contains the genetic instructions for an organism
- Thymine (T) is one of the nitrogenous bases
RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
- Typically single-stranded, but can form complex secondary structures
- Involved in protein synthesis, gene regulation, and other cellular processes
- Uracil (U) replaces thymine (T) as one of the nitrogenous bases

DNA contains the genetic code for an organism
RNA plays a crucial role in transmitting genetic information from DNA to the ribosome

RNA molecules (miRNA, siRNA) can regulate gene expression by binding to specific mRNA molecules

Nucleic acids are essential for life, as they contain the genetic instructions for an organism
Understanding nucleic acids has led to significant advances in fields such as genetics, genomics, and biotechnology