Describe Nucleic Acids By Filling In The Following Chart
Introduction to Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are essential macromolecules that are involved in the storage and transmission of genetic information in all living organisms. There are two types of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, which differ in their chemical structure and functions. DNA carries the genetic code that determines the traits of an organism, while RNA plays a key role in protein synthesis.
Structure of Nucleic Acids
Both DNA and RNA are composed of nucleotides, which are the basic building blocks of these molecules. Each nucleotide consists of a sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. In DNA, the sugar is deoxyribose, while in RNA, it is ribose. The nitrogenous bases in DNA are adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine, while in RNA, uracil replaces thymine. The nitrogenous bases pair up in a specific way, with adenine always pairing with thymine or uracil, and guanine always pairing with cytosine.
Functions of DNA
DNA is responsible for encoding the genetic information that is passed on from one generation to the next. This information is stored in the sequence of nucleotides in the DNA molecule, which forms a code that determines the traits of an organism. DNA also plays a key role in DNA replication, which is the process of copying the genetic information before cell division. During DNA replication, the two strands of the DNA molecule separate, and each strand serves as a template for the synthesis of a new complementary strand.
Functions of RNA
RNA is involved in protein synthesis, which is the process of translating the genetic information in DNA into proteins. There are three types of RNA that play different roles in this process: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). mRNA carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes, where it is translated into protein. tRNA delivers the amino acids to the ribosome, where they are added to the growing protein chain according to the sequence of codons in the mRNA. rRNA forms the structure of the ribosome and catalyzes the formation of peptide bonds between the amino acids.
Differences Between DNA and RNA
Although DNA and RNA are both nucleic acids, they differ in several ways. DNA is double-stranded, while RNA is single-stranded. DNA uses the nitrogenous base thymine, while RNA uses uracil. DNA is more stable than RNA, and is less prone to mutations. RNA has a shorter half-life than DNA, which means it is degraded more quickly in the cell.
Conclusion
In summary, nucleic acids are essential macromolecules that are involved in the storage and transmission of genetic information. DNA carries the genetic code that determines the traits of an organism, while RNA plays a key role in protein synthesis. Both DNA and RNA are composed of nucleotides, which are the basic building blocks of these molecules. The nitrogenous bases pair up in a specific way, with adenine always pairing with thymine or uracil, and guanine always pairing with cytosine. DNA and RNA differ in several ways, such as their chemical structure, function, and stability.