NUCLEIC - ACIDS - (biomolecules 10).pptx

this is a powerpoint presentation about nucleic acids.

1. Nucleic acids

2. Nucleic acids are crucial biomolecules found in all living organisms, responsible for storing, transmitting, and expressing genetic information.

3. A nucleotide is the basic building block of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA.

4. A nucleotide is composed of three main components: Nitrogenous Base: This is the part of the nucleotide that carries genetic information. There are four types of nitrogenous bases found in DNA: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). In RNA, thymine is replaced by uracil (U). These bases are divided into two categories: purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine, and uracil).

5. 2. Pentose Sugar: The sugar component of a nucleotide is either ribose or deoxyribose , depending on whether it's RNA or DNA, respectively. Ribose is a five-carbon sugar found in RNA, while deoxyribose is a similar sugar but lacking an oxygen atom on one of its carbons, found in DNA.

6. 3. Phosphate Group: This is a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms, forming a negatively charged ion. In a nucleotide, one or more phosphate groups are attached to the sugar molecule. The phosphate group(s) link adjacent nucleotides in a DNA or RNA strand, forming the backbone of the molecule through phosphodiester bonds.

7. A nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and one or more phosphate groups. These three components combine to form the building blocks of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA.

8. There are two main types of nucleic acids: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).

9. DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid): DNA is a double-stranded molecule that contains the genetic instructions necessary for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses.

10. It consists of a long chain of nucleotides, each composed of a sugar molecule ( deoxyribose ), a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). The sequence of these bases encodes the genetic information.

11. RNA (Ribonucleic Acid): RNA is typically single-stranded and performs multiple roles within the cell, including translating genetic information from DNA into proteins, regulating gene expression, and serving as structural and catalytic components of ribosomes.

12. Like DNA, RNA is composed of nucleotides, but it contains ribose sugar instead of deoxyribose and uracil (U) instead of thymine as one of its nitrogenous bases.

13. Both DNA and RNA are essential for the functioning of cells and organisms. DNA serves as the master blueprint for life, while RNA acts as a mediator, carrying out various tasks based on the information encoded in DNA.

14. The structure and function of nucleic acids are fundamental to the field of molecular biology and are critical for understanding genetics, inheritance, and the mechanisms of life.

15. ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY Describe the process of DNA replication, including the roles of enzymes and nucleotides. What is the genetic code, and how is it related to nucleic acids?