KidzSearch Safe Wikipedia for Kids. Nucleic acids are large molecules where genetic information is stored. There are two types of nucleic acids: deoxyribonucleic acid, better known as DNA and ribonucleic acid, better known as RNA . The nucleic acids are made of nucleotides.
What are the 4 types of nucleic acids?
how can proteins recognize specific sequences in double-helix nucleic acids? Specifically, they considered the unique identification of the four possible base pairs A•U(T), U(T)•A, G•C and C•G by protein side chains. Seeman and colleagues correctly ...
What are some interesting facts about nucleic acids?
Some interesting facts about Nucleic acids: Nucleic acids code your genes, they are used in protein synthesis, repair, and reproduction. A nucleotide is a double helix made of two strands of polymers. If we did not have nucleotides we would get information to our cells and we wouldn’t be able to code our genes.
What are nucleic acids and their functions?
The Functions of Nucleic Acids
- Nucleic acids are responsible for the transmission of inherent characters from parent to offspring.
- They are responsible for the synthesis of protein in our body
- DNA fingerprinting is a method used by forensic experts to determine paternity. It is also used for the identification of criminals. ...
Why is nucleic acid not on nutrition labels?
This phenomenon may represent an important evolutionary development to protect the integrity of the cellular DNA or to ensure that levels of ATP do not fluctuate in concert with the dietary intake of purines. The potential toxicity of dietary nucleic acids to humans usually arises not from the nucleic acids but
How do you explain nucleic acids to a child?
1:065:26An easy overview of DNA for children | Awesome DNA Facts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFrom every cell it would reach from the earth to the Sun a hundred times that is a lot of DNA DNAMoreFrom every cell it would reach from the earth to the Sun a hundred times that is a lot of DNA DNA strands are so long that they must be packaged. Special.
What is a nucleic acid simple definition?
Nucleic Acids Nucleic acids are large biomolecules that play essential roles in all cells and viruses. A major function of nucleic acids involves the storage and expression of genomic information. Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, encodes the information cells need to make proteins.
What are 5 functions of nucleic acids?
(i) DNA is a genetic material which carries all the hereditary information. (ii) DNA also transfer genetic information from one generation to other. (iii) RNAs are involved in the expression of genetic code of DNA by forming specific protein. (iv) Some RNAs act as enzyme.
What do nucleic acids do?
Nucleic acids, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), carry genetic information which is read in cells to make the RNA and proteins by which living things function. The well-known structure of the DNA double helix allows this information to be copied and passed on to the next generation.
Where are nucleic acids?
Although first discovered within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, nucleic acids are now known to be found in all life forms including within bacteria, archaea, mitochondria, chloroplasts, and viruses (There is debate as to whether viruses are living or non-living).
Why are nucleic acids so called?
Richard Altmann in 1989 discovered that the contents of the nucleus of a cell, which he then called 'nuclein', had acidic properties, which caused his to change its name, 'nuclein', to 'nucleic acid'.
What is nucleic acid made of?
Nucleic acids are giant biomolecules made of monomers called nucleotides. Nucleotides have three components: pentose sugar (5-carbon sugar), phosphate group, and nitrogenous base. The nucleic acids are of two major types: natural and synthetic nucleic acids.
What foods have nucleic acids?
Nucleic acids are found in all living things, including the foods you eat. Based on current research, meat, fish, seafood, legumes, and mushrooms contain the highest levels of these compounds.
Why are nucleic acids called nucleic acids?
They are called nucleic acids because scientists first found them in the nucleus of cells. Now that we have better equipment, nucleic acids have been found in mitochondria, chloroplasts, and cells that have no nucleus, such as bacteria and viruses. The Basics.
What are the five pieces of nucleic acids?
Chemists call the monomers "nucleotides.". The five pieces are uracil, cytosine, thymine, adenine, and guanine. No matter what science class you are in, you will always hear about ATCG when looking at DNA. Uracil is only found in RNA.
What does DNA stand for?
While you probably don't have to remember the full words right now, we should tell you that DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. RNA stands for ribonucleic acid. The mRNA and tRNA are messenger RNA and transfer RNA, respectively. You may even hear about rRNA which stands for ribosomal RNA.
What is the shape of a nucleic acid?
They are actually made up of chains of base pairs of nucleic acids stretching from as few as three to millions. When those pairs combine in super long chains (DNA), they make a shape called a double helix.
What are base pairs in biology?
The base pairs are the rungs. We're very close to talking about the biology of cells here. While it doesn't change your knowledge of the chemistry involved, know that DNA holds your genetic information. Everything you are in your body is encoded in the DNA found in your cells.
What are the building blocks of living organisms?
The nucleic acids are the building blocks of living organisms. You may have heard of DNA described the same way. Guess what? DNAis just one type of nucleic acid. Some other types are RNA, mRNA, and tRNA.
What are the components of nucleic acids?
There are five chief types of components in nucleic acids: cytosine, guanine, thymine, uracil, and adenine. Whether the acid contains uracil or thymine determines whether it is DNA (thymine) or RNA (uracil).
What is the role of RNA in the development of proteins?
RNA carries the information along, is responsible for the growth of new proteins, and creating peptide bonds. 3. Artificial Nucleic Acids. Some nucleic acids are synthesized in a laboratory setting by scientists who can create analogous structures to actual DNA and RNA.
Where is DNA found?
It contains all of the genetic information for a living organism, carried as long strings of information called genes. These genes are found in the nucleus of the cells.
What are the consequences of mutations in DNA?
Some of these mutations to the nucleic acids have resulted in medical conditions such as heart disease, certain kinds of cancer, cystic fibrosis, Down's syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, Tay-Sachs disease, and many more.
What is nucleic acid?
If you're taking general chemistry, organic chemistry, or biochemistry, you'll need to understand some basic concepts about nucleic acids, the polymers used to code the genetic information of organisms. Here are some quick nucleic acid facts to get you started.
What are the two nucleic acids used in DNA?
The two nucleic acids used in the repair, reproduction, and protein synthesis are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA, as shown in the graphic) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).
What is the name of the scientist who studies nucleic acids?
Quick Facts about Nucleic Acids. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. If you're taking general chemistry, organic chemistry, or biochemistry, you'll need to understand some basic concepts about nucleic ...
What is the role of nucleic acids in life?
Nucleic acids, and DNA in particular, are key macromolecules for the continuity of life. DNA bears the hereditary information that’s passed on from parents to children, providing instructions for how (and when) to make the many proteins needed to build and maintain functioning cells, tissues, and organisms.
What are the two types of nucleic acids?
Nucleic acids, macromolecules made out of units called nucleotides, come in two naturally occurring varieties: deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) and ribonucleic acid ( RNA ). DNA is the genetic material found in living organisms, all the way from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals like you and me.
What are the four nitrogen bases in DNA?
Each nucleotide in DNA contains one of four possible nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), guanine (G) cytosine (C), and thymine (T). Adenine and guanine are purines, meaning that their structures contain two fused carbon-nitrogen rings. Cytosine and thymine, in contrast, are pyrimidines and have a single carbon-nitrogen ring.
What is the name of the polymer that makes up DNA?
Nucleotides. DNA and RNA are polymers (in the case of DNA, often very long polymers), and are made up of monomers known as nucleotides. When these monomers combine, the resulting chain is called a polynucleotide ( poly- = "many").
What are the components of DNA and RNA?
Image of the components of DNA and RNA, including the sugar (deoxyribose or ribose), phosphate group, and nitrogenous base. Bases include the pyrimidine bases (cytosine, thymine in DNA, and uracil in RNA, one ring) and the purine bases (adenine and guanine, two rings). The phosphate group is attached to the 5' carbon.
What is the sugar in DNA?
These two are very similar in structure, with just one difference: the second carbon of ribose bears a hydroxyl group, while the equivalent carbon of deoxyribose has a hydrogen instead.
What type of RNA is used to make proteins?
Before this information can be used for protein synthesis, however, an RNA copy (transcript) of the gene must first be made. This type of RNA is called a messenger RNA ( mRNA ), as it serves as a messenger between DNA and the ribosomes, molecular machines that read mRNA sequences and use them to build proteins.
What are the four types of nucleotides?
DNA is a long thin molecule made up of something called nucleotides. There are four different types of nucleotides: adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. They are usually represented by their first letter: A- adenine. T- thymine.
What is the role of DNA in life?
DNA is an essential molecule for life. It acts like a recipe holding the instructions telling our bodies how to develop and function.
What is the shape of DNA?
Although DNA looks like very thin long strings under a microscope, it turns out that DNA has a specific shape. This shape is called a double helix. On the outside of the double helix is the backbone which holds the DNA together. There are two sets of backbones that twist together.
What is the function of a gene in DNA?
Within each string of DNA are sets of instructions called genes. A gene tells a cell how to make a specific protein. Proteins are used by the cell to perform certain functions, to grow, and to survive. Shape of the DNA Molecule.
When was DNA discovered?
The double helix structure of DNA was discovered by Dr. James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. If you unraveled all the DNA molecules in your body and placed them end to end, it would stretch to the Sun and back several times. DNA is organized into structures called chromosomes within the cell.
How do cells get their instructions?
Cells get their instructions on what do to from DNA. DNA acts sort of like a computer program . The cell is the computer or the hardware and the DNA is the program or code. The DNA code is held by the different letters of the nucleotides. As the cell "reads" the instructions on the DNA the different letters represent instructions.