NUCLEIC ACIDS
Question: What are Nucleic acids? Explain.
Answer: The nitrogen containing compounds which were first discovered in pus cells of infected wounds are called nucleic acids. The overall, nucleic acids store and transmit genetic information and play a vital role for all kind of life. These are long chain molecules made of large number of nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of three components:
i. Nitrogenous base ii. Pentose sugar iii. Phosphate group.
There are two main classes of nucleic acids which are: ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid DNA.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
DNA structure was discovered by J. Watson and F. Crick in 1953.
It exists as double stranded and forms double helix.
Its strands are held together by hydrogen bonds.
It has deoxyribose sugar, phosphate unit and nitrogenous base.
It has thiamine as base.
It has genetic information which passes from generation to generation.
Its order of bases forms a code that stores the information to synthesis the proteins.
It is present in the nucleus of cells.
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)
It exists as single stranded and does not form double helix.
It is synthesized by DNA
It has ribose sugar, phosphate unit and nitrogenous base.
It has uracil as base.
It receives reads, decodes and use genetic information from DNA for synthesis of new proteins.
It is present in the nucleus as well as cytoplasm of cells.
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