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Molecular Biology
DNA, RNA & Chromosomes
Nucleic Acids

  • Macromolecules made up of chains of monomeric nucleotides

  • Located within cells & form structures

Structural Units

Nucleotide: basic unit

Nitrogenous Base + Sugar + Phosphate

Nucleoside: 

Nitrogenous Base + Sugar 

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Structure of Nucleic Acids

Consists of 3 parts:

  1. Nitrogenous base

    • Aromatic ring of carb​on & nitrogen

  2. Pentose sugar

    • 5 carbon sugar ring​

  3. Phosphate group

    • Acidic in nature​

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DNA vs. RNA

Based on different pentose & nitrogenous base, nucleic acids either all into DNA or RNA.

  • The information in DNA & RNA is encoded in the order of the bases

DNA

DNA or Deoxyribonucleic Acids: 

The genetic material

  • Contains all the information to direct every cellular process 

Made up of:

  • Pentose sugar- (Hydrogen at 2' Carbon- Deoxyribose)

  • Nitrogenous Base (A,T,C,G)

  • Phosphate group

Deoxyribose%20and%20Ribose_edited.jpg
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RNA

RNA or Ribonucleic Acids

  • Participates in several cellular processes involved in the information transfer from the DNA to protein synthesis

Made up of:

  • Pentose sugar (Hydroxyl group at 2' Carbon- Ribose)

  • Nitrogenous base (A,U,C,G)

  • Phosphate group

Deoxyribose%20and%20Ribose_edited.jpg
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Types of RNA:

  1. Messenger RNA (mRNA)

    • the template of the DNA carries information from DNA to ribosomes

  2. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)​​​​

    • Involved in protein synthesis​​

  3. Transfer RNA (tRNA)

    • Involved in protein synthesis​​

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