Download NUCLEIC ACIDS Nucleic acids: large macromolecule ( polymer

NUCLEIC ACIDS
Nucleic acids: large macromolecule ( polymer ) made up of subunits ( monomers )
called NUCLEOTIDES
General structure of a nucleotide :
3 main parts : a) FIVE carbon sugar ( ribose or deoxyribose )
b) a PHOSPHATE group
c) an organic NITROGEN – containing component : a NITOGEN BASE
Nuclotides are different due to their NITROGEN BASE
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A - ADENINE
T – THYMINE
C – CYTOSINE
G – GUANINE
U – URACIL
( found in DNA only )
( found in RNA only )
Two types of Nucleic Acids
1. DNA : DeoxyriboNucleic Acid
2. RNA : RiboNucleic Acid
DNA Structure :
- a DOUBLE HELIX
– resembles a ladder twisted like a spiral staircase
– TWO strands of nucleotides held together by HYDROGEN BONDS
and matched up according to the BASE – PAIRING RULES
– sugar - deoxyribose
BASE PAIRING RULES :
A=T
C=G
for DNA
A=U
C=G
for RNA
If the chromosomes ( DNA ) in the nucleus of a cell contain 20 % THYMINE , determine the amounts
of the other nitrogen bases
A = _____________ %
G = ______________ %
C = _____________ %
FUNCTION OF DNA
a) stores GENETIC ( hereditary ) information that is passed on from one generation to the next
b) stores information for making PROTEIN
GENE : the set of instuctions in DNA that codes a complete protein
HUMAN GENOME PROJECT :
ONE CELL
2 billion base pairs = 30 000 – 35 000 genes = 46 chromosomes
DNA FOUND IN NUCLEUS ONLY
RNA – ribonucleic acid
STUCTURE :
a) sugar – ribose
b) ONE strand
c) much shorter than DNA
d) no THYMINE ( T ) , instead URACIL ( U )
A=U
TYPES OF RNA :
a) mRNA- messenger RNA
b) tRNA – transfer RNA
c) rRNA – ribosomal RNA
FUNCTION :
a) mRNA leaves nucleus with information from DNA to make a protein
b) tRNA helps DECODE information to make protein by bringing the
correct amino acid
c) rRNA is part of the structure of a RIBOSOME
RNA is found both in the NUCLEUS and the CYTOPLASM
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