DNA and RNA

• DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) stores genetic information
• RNA - ribonucleic acid
• DNA and RNA are polymers of nucleotides
• both are polynucleotides, polymers of nucleotides
• nucleotides join via a condensation reaction between the phosphate group of one and the sugar of another, forming a phosphodiester bond
• chain of sugars and phosphates is known as the sugar-phosphate backbone
• RNA is single stranded and shorter than most DNA molecules