Nucleic acids Information molecules Nucleic Acids Types u

Nucleic acids: Information molecules

Nucleic Acids Types: u DNA § Deoxyribo. Nucleic Acid u RNA § Ribo. Nucleic Acid RNA

Nucleic Acids § Function: u genetic material § stores information w genes w blueprint for building proteins n DNA RNA proteins § transfers information w blueprint for new cells w blueprint for next generation proteins

Nucleic acids § Building block = nucleotides nucleotide – nucleotide u 5 different nucleotides u u different nitrogen bases A, T, C, G, U sugar phosphate N base Nitrogen bases I’m the A, T, C, G or U part!

Nucleotide chains § Nucleic acids u sugar N base phosphate nucleotides chained into a polymer § DNA w double-sided w double helix w A, C, G, T § RNA w single-sided w A, C, G, U phosphate strong bonds sugar N base phosphate RNA

DNA § Double strand twists into a double helix weak bonds between nitrogen bases join the 2 strands § A pairs with T w A : : T weak bonds § C pairs with G w C : : G u the two strands can separate when our cells need to make copies of it u

Copying DNA § Replication copy DNA u 2 strands of DNA helix are complementary u § they are matching § have one, can build other § have one, can rebuild the whole

DNA replication § Copying DNA u pairing of the bases allows each strand to serve as a pattern for a new strand Newly copied strands of DNA

1953 | 1962 Watson and Crick … and others…

Let’s build some DNA!