Nucleotides and nucleic acids

• Both DNA and RNA carry information,

  for instance DNA holds genetic

  information whereas RNA then

  transfers this genetic information from

  DNA to ribosomes made of RNA and

  proteins.

  
• Both deoxyribonucleic and

  ribonucleic acid are polymers of

  nucleotides. Nucleotides consist of

  pentose which is a 5 carbon sugar, a

  nitrogen containing organic base and a

  phosphate group
• The components of a DNA nucleotide are deoxyribose, a phosphate group and one

  of the organic bases adenine, cytosine, guanine or thymine.

  
• The components of an RNA nucleotide are ribose, a phosphate group and one of

  the organic bases adenine, cytosine, guanine or uracil.

  
• Nucleotides join together by phosphodiester bonds formed in condensation

  reactions.

  
• A DNA molecule is a double helix composed of two polynucleotides joined together by

  hydrogen bonds between complementary bases whereas RNA is a relatively short single

  polynucleotide chain