Learning Objectives:
i. Define nucleic acids and nucleotides.
ii. Describe the structure and function of nucleic acids.
ii. Explain the different types of nucleic acids and their roles in living organisms.
i. What are nucleic acids and nucleotides?
Nucleic acids are the genetic material of all living organisms. They carry the instructions for building and maintaining the body. Nucleic acids are made up of smaller molecules called nucleotides.
Nucleotides are made up of three parts:
A phosphate group
A five-carbon sugar (ribose or deoxyribose)
A nitrogenous base
There are four types of nitrogenous bases:
Adenine (A)
Guanine (G)
Cytosine (C)
Thymine (T)
ii. Structure and function of nucleic acids
Nucleic acids are polymers, which means that they are made up of repeating units of nucleotides. The nucleotides are linked together by phosphodiester bonds.
There are two types of nucleic acids: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).
DNA is the genetic material that is passed down from parents to offspring. It contains the instructions for building and maintaining the body.
RNA is involved in a variety of cellular processes, such as protein synthesis and gene regulation.
iii. Different types of nucleic acids and their roles in living organisms
There are three main types of RNA: messenger RNA (mRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and transfer RNA (tRNA).
mRNA carries the genetic code from DNA to the ribosome, where proteins are synthesized.
rRNA is a component of the ribosome.
tRNA transfers amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis.
Real-world applications of nucleic acids
Nucleic acids are used in a variety of biotechnology applications, such as:
Gene cloning: Gene cloning is the process of creating copies of a gene. Gene cloning is used in research to study genes and to develop new medical treatments.
Genetic engineering: Genetic engineering is the process of altering the genetic makeup of an organism. Genetic engineering is used to develop new crops, improve the nutritional value of food, and produce drugs.
Scientists are continuing to develop new applications for nucleic acids. For example, researchers are developing nucleic acid-based drugs to treat cancer and other diseases.
Nucleic acids are essential for life. They carry the instructions for building and maintaining the body. DNA is the genetic material that is passed down from parents to offspring, while RNA is involved in a variety of cellular processes.