Nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA, are essential biomolecules that store and transmit genetic information in all living organisms. They are composed of long chains of nucleotides, which consist of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base, enabling the encoding of genetic instructions for the development, functioning, and reproduction of life.

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in almost all living organisms, encoding the genetic instructions used in their development, functioning, growth, and reproduction. It is composed of two strands that coil around each other to form a double helix, carrying the genetic information in sequences of four types of nucleotides: adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a crucial molecule in cellular biology that plays a central role in coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes. It serves as the intermediary between DNA and protein synthesis, and is involved in various biological processes including gene regulation and catalysis.

essential biomolecules

Genetic information refers to the data encoded in an organism's DNA that determines its biological characteristics and functions. It is the blueprint for life, influencing everything from physical traits to susceptibility to diseases, and is passed from one generation to the next through reproduction.

genetic information

living organisms

long chains of nucleotides

sugar

A phosphate group is a crucial functional group in biochemistry, consisting of a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms, and plays a significant role in energy transfer, signaling, and structural functions within cells. Its ability to store and transfer energy is exemplified by its presence in molecules like ATP, and it is also vital in forming the backbone of DNA and RNA molecules.

phosphate group

Nitrogenous bases are organic molecules that serve as the fundamental building blocks of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, by forming base pairs through hydrogen bonding. They play a crucial role in encoding genetic information and are categorized into two types: purines and pyrimidines.

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