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Nucleic Acids and Protein

Nucleic acids are naturally occurring compounds that carry genetic information and determine inherited characteristics. The two main types are DNA and RNA, with DNA containing genetic instructions and RNA carrying out protein synthesis. Nucleic acids are composed of nucleotides that contain a sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base.

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12 views1 page

Nucleic Acids and Protein

Nucleic acids are naturally occurring compounds that carry genetic information and determine inherited characteristics. The two main types are DNA and RNA, with DNA containing genetic instructions and RNA carrying out protein synthesis. Nucleic acids are composed of nucleotides that contain a sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base.

Uploaded by

Floyd Elgario
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acid, naturally occurring chemical compound that is capable of being broken down to yield
phosphoric acid, sugars, and a mixture of organic bases (purines and pyrimidines). Nucleic acids are the main
information-carrying molecules of the cell, and, by directing the process of protein synthesis, they determine
the inherited
characteristics of every living thing. These molecules are comprised of elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,
phosphorus and nitrogen. The two main classes of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and
ribonucleic acid (RNA).

DNA is the master blueprint for life and constitutes the genetic material in all free- living organisms and most
viruses. DNA contains the information on what proteins will be created. On the other hand, RNA is the one
responsible to create the proteins based on the information given by the DNA. RNA is the genetic material of
certain viruses, but it is also found in all living cells.

Nucleic acids are polynucleotides— that is, long chainlike


molecules composed of a series of nearly identical building
blocks called nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a
nitrogen-containing aromatic base attached to a pentose
(five-carbon) sugar, which is in turnattached to a
phosphate group. Eachnucleic acid contains four of five
possible nitrogen-containing bases: adenine (A), guanine
(G), cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U). A
and G are categorized as purines, while C, T, and U are
collectively called pyrimidines.

Biomolecules have a single


basic building unit called a
monomer. It comes from the
Greek words monos, meaning
"single" and meros meaning
"part”.

A monomer is a single unit forming a long chain of molecules creating a repeated pattern. The long
chain molecule is now composed of many atoms. Monomers are joined together to form polymers. The
prefix “-poly” comes from the Greek word polus, meaning “many”, so polymer means "many parts." This is a
long molecule consisting of many similar building blocks, or a repeated pattern of various building
blocks.

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