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Understanding DNA and RNA Structures

Nucleic acids DNA and RNA are macromolecules that dictate the amino acid sequence in proteins, contain genetic information passed from parents to offspring, and are made of nucleotides with a phosphate group and nitrogenous base attached to a sugar. DNA contains the deoxyribose sugar and bases adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine in a double helix structure, while RNA contains the ribose sugar and replaces thymine with uracil in a single strand. DNA stores genetic information in genes with triplet codon sequences that are translated into amino acid sequences in proteins.

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70 views11 pages

Understanding DNA and RNA Structures

Nucleic acids DNA and RNA are macromolecules that dictate the amino acid sequence in proteins, contain genetic information passed from parents to offspring, and are made of nucleotides with a phosphate group and nitrogenous base attached to a sugar. DNA contains the deoxyribose sugar and bases adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine in a double helix structure, while RNA contains the ribose sugar and replaces thymine with uracil in a single strand. DNA stores genetic information in genes with triplet codon sequences that are translated into amino acid sequences in proteins.

Uploaded by

JasonCasanova
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Nucleic Acids

DNA & RNA


What are they ?
The 4th type of
macromolecules
The chemical link between
generations
The source of genetic
information in chromosomes
What do they do ?
Dictate amino-acid
sequence in proteins
Give information to
chromosomes, which is then
passed from parent to
offspring
What are they made of ?
 Simple units called nucleotides,
connected in long chains
 Nucleotides have 3 parts:
1- 5-Carbon sugar (pentose)
2- Nitrogen containing base
(made of C, H and N)
3- A phosphate group ( P )
 The P groups make the links that
unite the sugars (hence a “sugar-
phosphate backbone”
Two types of Nucleotides
(depending on the sugar they
contain)
1- Ribonucleic acids (RNA)
The pentose sugar is Ribose
(has a hydroxyl group in the 3rd
carbon---OH)
2- Deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA)
The pentose sugar is
Deoxyribose (has just an
hydrogen in the same place---
H) Deoxy = “minus oxygen”
DNA Nucleotides
Composition (3 parts):
1- Deoxyribose sugar (no O in 3rd
carbon)
2- Phosphate group
3- One of 4 types of bases (all
containing nitrogen):
- Adenine
- Thymine (Only in DNA)
- Cytosine
- Guanine
RNA Nucleotides
Composition ( 3 parts):
1- Ribose sugar (with O in 3rd
carbon)
2- Phosphate group
3- One of 4 types of bases (all
containing nitrogen):
- Adenine
- Uracyl (only in RNA)
- Cytosine
- Guanine
DNA vs RNA
 DNA
1- Deoxyribose sugar
2- Bases: Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine,
Guanine
3- Double-stranded helix arrangement
 RNA
1- Ribose sugar
2- Bases: Adenine, Uracyl, Cytosine,
Guanine
4- Single stranded
The Double Helix (DNA)
Structural model:
 Model proposed by Watson & Crick, 1953
 Two sugar-phosphate strands, next to each
other, but running in opposite directions.
 Specific Hydrogen bonds occur among bases
from one chain to the other:
A---T , C---G
Due to this specificity, a certain base on
one strand indicates a certain base in the
other.
 The 2 strands intertwine, forming a double-
helix that winds around a central axis
How DNA Works
1- DNA stores genetic information in
segments called genes
2- The DNA code is in Triplet Codons
(short sequences of 3 nucleotides
each)
3- Certain codons are translated by
the cell into certain Amino
acids.
4. Thus, the sequence of nucleotides in
DNA indicate a sequence of Amino
acids in a protein.

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