Wa0016.

What are Nucleic acids
Are the biopolymers whose monomer is nucleotides.
Nucleotides have three components: pentose

sugar (5-carbon sugar), phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.
What are nucleotides Nucleotide is the basic building

block of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA)
Functions of nucleic acids

1. To hold the genetic information
2. DNA is a genetic material which carries all the hereditary information.
3. DNA also transfer genetic information from one generation to other.
4. RNAs are involved in the expression of genetic code of DNA by forming
specific protein.
5. Some RNAs act as enzyme.
6. RNA helps in protein synthesis.
The structure of nucleic acid
nucleic acid is made up of three molecules
1.Phosphate group
2.Pentose sugar (Deoxyribose or Ribose)
3.Nitrogenous base ( the purines; adenine and guanine or the
pyrimidines; cytosine and thymine in DNA or uracil in RNA)
Structure of Nucleic Acids
What are Biopolymers in the
body
Are polymers produced by living organisms .
What are the four major biopolymers

1. carbohydrates
2. lipids proteins
3. nucleic acids
Nucleic acids are classified
primarily
as ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
RNA or DNA depending on whether it is ribose sugar or
deoxyribose sugar.
What are the classification (types) of

nucleic acids and their functions
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.
TYPES OF DNA
1. Autosomal DNA
Is a term used in genetic genealogy to describe DNA which is inherited from the
autosomal
2.chromosomes.
mitochondrial DNA is the circular chromosome found inside the cellular
organelles called mitochondria.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is the molecule that carries genetic
information for the development and functioning of an
organism. DNA is made of two linked strands that wind
around each other to resemble a twisted ladder shape
known as a double helix.
DNA STRUCTURE ACCORDING TO
WATSON AND CRICK (EXPLAIN
THE DNA STRUCTURE)
1.DNA is consists of two polynucleotide strands.
2.The polynucleotide strands are antiparallel.
3.DNA is made up of three molecules; phosphate group, deoxyribose
sugar, nitrogen base (adenine pairs with thymine) and (guanine pairs with
cytosine)’
4.The untwisted DNA is ladder like in which the sugar phosphate
backbones present the handrails while the nitrogen base pair present the
rungs.
5.The twisted DNA forms a double helix of minor and major grooves
6.The sugar phosphate backbone is hold together by the phosphodiester
backbone.
RNA
Ribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid present in all living cells
that has structural similarities to DNA. Unlike DNA, however,
RNA is most often single-stranded. An RNA molecule has a
backbone made of alternating phosphate groups and the
sugar ribose, rather than the deoxyribose found in DNA.
The general structure of RNA
ribonucleic acid molecules are small or short single
stranded and coiled such that the basses of the same
strand pairs with each other.
RNA nucleotide is made up of three molecules

1. Phosphate group.
2. Ribose sugar.
3. Nitrogen base (adenine pairs with guanine ) and (cytosine pairs with uracil).
Types of RNA
THE THREE TYPES ARE
tRNA
mRNA
rRNA
1. Transfer RNA (abbreviated tRNA) is a small RNA molecule that plays a key role in protein
synthesis. Transfer RNA serves as a link (or adaptor) between the messenger RNA (mRNA)
molecule and the growing chain of amino acids that make up a protein.
2. Messenger RNA (abbreviated mRNA) is a type of single-stranded RNA involved in protein
synthesis. mRNA is made from a DNA template during the process of transcription
3. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is molecule in cells that forms part of the protein-synthesizing
organelle known as a ribosome and that is exported to the cytoplasm to help translate the
information in messenger RNA(mRNA) into protein.
THE STRUCTURE OF tRNA
protein synthesis
Functions of RNA
•facilitate the translation of DNA into proteins
•Functions as an adapter molecule in protein synthesis
•Serves as a messenger between the DNA and the ribosomes.
•They are the carrier of genetic information in all living cells
•Promotes the ribosomes to choose the right amino acid which is required in building up
of new proteins in the body.
DNA REPLICATION
is the process by which the parent DNA molecules makes
another copy of itself.
Theories of DNA replication

1. semi-conservative hypothesis
2. Conservative hypothesis
3. Dispersive (fragmentation) hypothesis
Necessities of DNA replication
1.Prescence of enzymes such as DNA helicase
RNA primase, DNA, polymerase and DNA ligase.
2.complimentary DNA strand
3.free nucleotide to bond with complimentary base on the
separated DNA.
4.Energy source in form of ATP
Steps of DNA replication

ENZYMES FUCTIONS
DNA helicase This unwinds the double helix by breaking the

hydrogen bonds.
RNA primase This builds an RNA primer on the leading strand.
DNA polymerase This adds daughter nucleotides on the parent

strand.
DNA ligase This joints Okazaki fragments to form a
continuous strand.
Adaptations of DNA to their
functions
1.The sugar phosphate backbones are held together by phosphodiester bond
to provide stability.
2.The sugar phosphate backbones are antiparallel for complimentary base
pairing of purines and pyrimidines.
3.DNA is double helix to provide stability by protecting the base and
hydrogen bond.
4.DNA is a large molecule with base sequence to store much of genetic
information.
5.Many hydrogen bonds provides stability.
6.DNA is double helix with weak hydrogen bonds for DNA replication to
occur.
Evidences that DNA is the
hereditary material.
1.Hersey and chase or waring blender experiment showed that
bacteriophage only inject their DNA into the host bacteria, and that the
DNA served as the replicating genetic element of phages or
bacteriophages.
2.Griffith experiment showed that virulence factors form a killed
pathogenic strain could transform a non-virulent strain to become
virulent as well.
3.DNA is a stable molecule
4.DNA Mutation atter the organisms ‘ characteristics .
5. The amount of DNA in a given species is constant for all cells.
COMPARISON OF DNA AND RNA
1. Both are polymers of nucleotides.

2. Both carry genetic information.
3. Both originate from the nucleus
4. Both have the same purines bases (adenine and guanine)
5. Both have the same pyrimidine base (cytosine)
Differences between DNA and RNA
DNA RNA
Double stranded. Single stranded.
High molecular mass. Low molecular mass.
The pentose sugar is deoxyribose. The pentose sugar is ribose.
Quantity is fixed in a cell. Quantity is variable in a cell.
The nitrogen bases are adenine, guanine, cytosine and The nitrogen bases are adenine, guanine, cytosine
thymine. and uracil.
Stable. Unstable.
DNA is self replicated. RNA is synthesized from DNA.

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What are Nucleic acids

Are the biopolymers whose monomer is nucleotides.

Nucleotides have three components: pentose

What are nucleotides Nucleotide is the basic building

Functions of nucleic acids

What are the four major biopolymers

What are the classification (types) of

RNA nucleotide is made up of three molecules

Theories of DNA replication

Steps of DNA replication

DNA helicase This unwinds the double helix by breaking the

DNA polymerase This adds daughter nucleotides on the parent

1. Both are polymers of nucleotides.

Double stranded. Single stranded.

High molecular mass. Low molecular mass.

The pentose sugar is deoxyribose. The pentose sugar is ribose.

Quantity is fixed in a cell. Quantity is variable in a cell.

DNA is self replicated. RNA is synthesized from DNA.

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