Nucleic Acids

• Nucleic acids store genetic information and/or store and transfer energy
• Common nucleic acids found in living organisms include: DNA, RNA, ATP, cAMP, NADH, and NADPH
• Nucleotides are the monomers of nucleic acids
• A nucleotide consists of a 5 carbon sugar bonded to a phosphate group and nitrogenous base
• DNA and RNA are the primary sources of genes and hereditary information
• mRNA is made from the DNA template during the process of transcription
• mRNA's job is to transmit the protein building directions from the DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm
• tRNA's job is to deliver and place the appropriate amino acids into the proteins that are built by the ribosomes
• rRNA is one of the main building components of the cell's ribosomes