Nucleic Acid

Nucleic acids are biopolymers, or large biomolecules, essential for all known forms of life. They are composed of nucleotides, which are the monomers made of three components: a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base. The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).

Structure

Nucleic acids are usually composed of three components: a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA, it is ribose. The phosphate group is the same for both DNA and RNA. The nitrogenous bases, however, differ between DNA and RNA. In DNA, the bases are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). In RNA, thymine is replaced by uracil (U).

Function

Nucleic acids function to store and transmit genetic information. In organisms, DNA holds the genetic information for cell growth, division, and function. This information is used by RNA to produce proteins, which are essential for the organism's development and functioning.

Types

There are two main types of nucleic acids: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material found in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. RNA is involved in protein synthesis and sometimes in the transmission of genetic information.

DNA

DNA is a long polymer made from repeating units called nucleotides. The structure of DNA is dynamic along its length, being capable of coiling into tight loops and other shapes. DNA is made up of a double helix, with both strands coiled around each other.

RNA

Unlike DNA, RNA comes in a variety of shapes and types. While DNA looks like a long, twisted ladder, RNA may be of various types like messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), or ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Each of these types of RNA plays a different role in the cell.

See also

• Nucleotide
• Genetics
• Molecular biology

References

Nucleic Acid Resources
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