Nucleic Acids

• components of a nucleotide

  • pentose sugar
  • phosphate group
  • nitrogenous base
• Role of DNA

  • carries genetic information
  • determines our inherited characteristics
• Role of RNA

  Transfers genetic information from DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis
• Structure of DNA

  • deoxyribose sugar
  • phosphate group
  • one nitrogenous bases (A,C,G,T)
  • double stranded
  • hydrogen bonds between the bases which forms a helix shape
• Structure of RNA

  • a ribose sugar
  • a phosphate group
  • 1 of 4 organic bases (A,C,G,U)
  • single stranded
• Pyrimidine bases

  base with a single ring

  • Cytosine
  • Thymine
• Purine bases

  bases with a double ring

  • Adenine
  • Guanine
• Formation of a phosphodiester bond between two nucleotides

  • Condensation reaction between phosphate and deoxyribose
  • Catalysed by DNA Polymerase