Genetics

• Nucleotides are the molecules (monomers) from which DNA and RNA are formed

  Each nucleotide is formed from pentose, a nitrogen containing organic base and a phosphate group
• The components of a DNA nucleotide are deoxyribose, the phosphate group and one of the organic bases:

  • Adenine (A)
  • Cytosine (C)
  • Guanine (G)
  • Thymine (T)
• The components of a RNA nucleotide are ribose, the phosphate group and one of the organic bases:

  • Adenine (A)
  • Cytosine (C)
  • Guanine (G)
  • Uracil (U)
• A condensation reaction between two nucleotides forms a phosphodiester bond.

  Each nucleotide in DNA/RNA is joined together by these phosphodiester bonds between the pentose sugars; this is often described as a sugar-phosphate backbone.
• Adenine pairs with Thymine or Uracil

  Cytosine pairs with Guanine