NUCLEIC
ACIDS :
DNA and RNA
Nucleic Acids
•Very Large, Complex,
•DNA & RNA Store
Important Info in the
Cell. (Genetic
Information)
•ATP is an energy
carrier
DNA
DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC
ACID
•double stranded.
•carries genetic code
•contains info that is
essential for almost all
cell activities
RNA
RIBONUCLEIC
ACID
• single stranded
• stores and transfers
info essential for the
building of proteins.
DNA & RNA are Polymers, made
of thousands of linked Monomers
called NUCLEOTIDES.
Each Nucleotide is made of
THREE Main Components:
 Phosphate Group
 Five-Carbon Sugar &
 Ring shaped Nitrogen Base
5-Carbon Sugar
• In DNA, sugar
is deoxyribose.
• In RNA, it’s
ribose.
Nitrogen Bases
Nucleic Acids use a System
of FOUR Compounds to
store Heredity Information.
A Sequence of the four
compounds arranged in a
certain order acts as a Code
for Genetic Instructions of
the Cell.
Adenine
Cytosine
Guanine
Thymine
Phosphate Group
Functional
group
composed
of
phosphate
and 4
oxygen
atoms.
ATP
• Adenosine Triphosphate
• Single nucleotide that has 3 phosphate
groups
• Used as fuel for your cell’s activities
• Energy is released when one of the
phosphate groups is broken off.