Nucleic acids: Information molecules Regents Biology 2006-2007 Nucleic Acids Examples DNA DeoxyriboNucleic Acid RNA RiboNucleic Acid Regents Biology RNA Nucleic Acids Function: genetic material stores information genes blueprint for building proteins DNA DNA RNA proteins transfers information blueprint for new cells blueprint for next generation Regentsproteins Biology Genes (DNA) are needed to run bodies every day… to make you and me… to make new cells… to make babies! G C T A Regents Biology A C G T A C G T A Nucleic acids Building block = nucleotides nucleotide – nucleotide – nucleotide – nucleotide 5 different nucleotides different nitrogen bases A, T, C, G, U sugar phosphate Regents Biology N base Nitrogen bases I’m the A,T,C,G or U part! Nucleotide chains Nucleic acids N base sugar N base phosphate nucleotides chained into a polymer DNA phosphate double-sided double helix A, C, G, T strong bonds RNA sugar N base sugar N base phosphate single-sided A, C, G, U phosphate Regents Biology sugar RNA DNA Double strand twists into a double helix weak bonds between nitrogen bases join the 2 strands A pairs with T A :: T weak bonds C pairs with G C :: G the two strands can separate when our cells need to make copies of it Regents Biology Copying DNA Replication copy DNA 2 strands of DNA helix are complementary they are matching have one, can build other have one, can rebuild the whole Regents Biology DNA replication Copying DNA pairing of the bases allows each strand to serve as a pattern for a new strand Newly copied strands of DNA Regents Biology 1953 | 1962 Watson and Crick … and others… Regents Biology HELIXHELIX Let’s build some Regents Biology DNA!