Structure of DNA & RNA and

their functions

Presented by – Lovjot Singh & Poonam (1 st Prof.)

Presenting to – Dr. Seema Chawla (HOD Anatomy)

 INTRODUCTION:
• DNA (DeoxyRibonucleic Acid): DNA is
a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains
that coil around each other to form a double
helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for
the development, functioning, growth
and reproduction of all known organisms and
many viruses.

• RNA (RiboNucleic Acid): RNA is

a polymeric molecule that is essential for most
biological functions, either by performing the
function itself or by forming a template for the
production of proteins. Cellular organisms
use mRNA to convey genetic information that
directs synthesis of specific proteins
DNA DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
is the molecule that carries
genetic instructions in all
living organisms. It consists of
two long strands forming a
double helix, made up of
smaller units called
nucleotides. Each nucleotide
has a sugar, a phosphate
group, and a nitrogenous base
(adenine, thymine, cytosine, or
guanine). The sequence of
these bases encodes the
information for building and
maintaining an organism,
essentially acting as a
biological blueprint. DNA is
passed from parents to
offspring, ensuring the
‘Inheritance of Traits’.
STRUCTURE OF DNA
DOUBLE HELIX STRUCTURE

DNA (deoxyribonucleic
acid) consists of two long
strands that twist together
to form a double helix, a
structure first described
by Watson and Crick in
1953.
 COMPONENTS OF DNA
Nucleotides: The building blocks of
DNA, each composed of three
parts:
 Sugar: Deoxyribose, a five-
carbon sugar that lacks an
oxygen atom at the 2' position.
 Phosphate Group: Connects the
nucleotides, forming the
backbone of the DNA strand.
 Nitrogenous Bases: Four types -
Adenine (A), Thymine (T),
Guanine (G), Cytosine (C).
BASE PAIRING RULE

A pairs with T (two

hydrogen bonds) and C
pairs with G (three
hydrogen bonds). This
complementary nature is
important for accurate
DNA replication.
FUNCTIONS OF DNA
1.Genetic Information Storage :
DNA serves as the storage
medium for genetic information,
encoding the instructions
necessary for the development,
functioning, and reproduction of
organisms.
 2.Replication of DNA :
During Cell Division,
DNA undergoes
replication, facilitated
by enzymes like DNA
polymerase, ensuring
each daughter cell
receives an identical
copy of
Chromosomes.
3. Role in Heredity
DNA transmits genetic
information from
parents to offspring,
allowing for the
inheritance of traits.
This genetic continuity is
fundamental to
evolutionary processes.
RNA Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is
a polymer molecule that is
essential for most biological
functions, either by performing
the function itself (non-coding
RNA) or by forming a template
for the production of proteins
(messenger RNA). Cellular
organisms use messenger
RNA (mRNA) to convey genetic
information that directs
synthesis of specific proteins.
STRUCTURE OF RNA
Single Stranded Structure

RNA is a single-stranded
molecule and one of the
consequences of this, is
that RNA can form a variety
of three-dimensional
molecular complexes than
DNA. RNA has ribose sugar
in its nucleotides, which
make it more chemically
dynamic (more reactive)
than DNA.
 Component of RNA

Nucleotides :
1. Ribose sugar
2. Phosphate group
3. Nitrogenous groups:
A, U, G, C are used
here. Instead of
Thymine(T), Uracil(U)
is used.
Types of RNA
1. mRNA
(messenger RNA)
2. tRNA
(transfer RNA)
3. rRNA
(ribosomal RNA)
1. mRNA (messenger RNA)

mRNA is a single-
stranded chain of
ribonucleotides (adenine,
cytosine, guanine, and
uracil) with a sugar-
phosphate backbone. It
contains exons (coding
sequences) and introns
(non-coding sequences).
 2. tRNA ( transfer RNA)

The tRNAs are generally 76-90

nucleotides long. Each amino
acid has specific tRNAs. Stop
codons are not recognised by
any tRNAs. The secondary
structure of tRNA looks like a
clover leaf and tertiary
structure is like an inverted ‘L’
shape. The folded structure is
formed due to hydrogen bonding
between complementary bases.
3. rRNA (ribosomal RNA)
rRNA is the RNA component of
ribosomes, the molecular
machines that catalyze
protein synthesis. It constitute
over sixty percent of the
ribosome by weight and are
crucial for all its functions –
from binding to mRNA and
recruiting tRNA to catalyzing
the formation of a peptide
bond between two amino
acids.
FUNCTIONS OF RNA
mRNA
The main function of mRNA is to
provide a template for the synthesis
of protein. The genetic information
present in the RNA is translated into
amino acids present in the
polypeptide chain. The sequence of
nucleotides or codons in the mRNA
specifies the sequence of amino
acids in a polypeptide chain (amino
acid chain).
 tRNA
Transfer RNA (tRNA) has a
long-established role in
protein synthesis. The
tRNA molecule serves as
an adaptor molecule
between the genetic
instructions written in
nucleic acid sequences
and the protein products
encoded in genes.
rRNA
Protein synthesis is the primary
function of rRNA. The A, P, and E
sites are created within the
ribosome by the unusual three-
dimensional structure of rRNA,
which has internal helices and
loops. By attaching to messenger
RNA and transfer RNA, these
molecules assure that the codon
sequence of the mRNA is
appropriately translated into the
amino acid sequence of proteins.
 Central dogma

Central dogma was proposed by Francis Crick in 1958.

 DNA v/s RNA : Key Differences
Sr
No. Criteria DNA RNA

1. Sugar Deoxyribose Ribose

2. Strands Double stranded Single stranded

Thymine(5-methyluracil) used
3. Base pairing Uracil(U) is used

involved in protein synthesis

4. Function stores genetic information
and regulation
 CONCLUSION
 DNA and RNA are central to all living
organisms.
 DNA carries genetic instructions, while RNA
plays a key role in protein synthesis.
 DNA provides the code for the cell 's activities,
while RNA converts that code into proteins to
carry out cellular functions.
 References
1. Textbook of Histology by Inderbir Singh.
2. NCERT Textbook of Biology(Class 12th ).
3. Google.com
4. Wikpedia.org
5. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
6. Britannica.com