What is the basic structure and function of nucleic acids?
Nucleic acids, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), carry genetic information which is read in cells to make the RNA and proteins by which living things function. The well-known structure of the DNA double helix allows this information to be copied and passed on to the next generation.
What are the three main components of nucleic acid structure?
Nucleic acids are giant biomolecules made of monomers called nucleotides. Nucleotides have three components: pentose sugar (5-carbon sugar), phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.
What is the structure of nucleic acids quizlet?
What is the structure of nucleic acids? Large monomers (polynucleotides) formed from many nucleotides (the monomers) linked in a chain. Pentose monosaccharide, phosphate group (inorganic molecule that is acidic and negatively charged), nitrogenous base (one or two carbon rings).
What are 4 examples of nucleic acids?
Examples of Nucleic Acids
- deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
- ribonucleic acid (RNA)
- messenger RNA (mRNA)
- transfer RNA (tRNA)
- ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
What are the two types of nucleic acids quizlet?
Two types are DNA and RNA.
What is meant by nucleic acid?
Nucleic acids are the main information-carrying molecules of the cell, and, by directing the process of protein synthesis, they determine the inherited characteristics of every living thing. The two main classes of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).
What are the 3 function of nucleic acids?
Nucleic acids function to create, encode, and store biological information in cells, and serve to transmit and express that information inside and outside the nucleus.
What are the bases used to construct nucleic acids?
A set of five nitrogenous bases is used in the construction of nucleotides, which in turn build up nucleic acids like DNA and RNA . These nitrogenous bases are adenine (A), uracil (U), guanine (G), thymine (T), and cytosine (C).
What are the structural units of nucleic acids?
The building block unit of a nucleic acid is called a nucleotide. A nucleotide consists of a single sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogen-containing base. There are four different bases each in DNA and RNA . Both DNA and RNA contain the bases adenine , guanine , and cytosine.
What are the bases of nucleic acids?
Nucleic acids are made of monomers known as nucleotides. There are 3 parts to nucleotides: one of 4 nitrogenous bases, a sugar, and a phosphate group. RNA as well as DNA are both nucleotides. The four bases in DNA are: Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine and Thymine (present in DNA only).
What are the four nucleic acid base compounds?
adenine (A)