Nucleic acids

• Nucleic acids - Biological macromolecules containing oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus
• Two types of nucleic acids:

  • Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
  • Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
• Nucleic acids are made up of basic units called nucleotides
• Each nucleotide is made up of:

  • A phosphate group
  • A pentose sugar
  • A nitogen-containing organic base
• Nucleic acids:

  • DNA and RNA are important information-carrying molecules
  • DNA holds genetic information
  • RNA transfers genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes
• Ribosomes are formed from RNA and proteins