nucleic (nu-kle′ik) acids Flashcards
(5 cards)
Nucleic acid
Nucleic acids (like DNA) control how we look, grow, and function by determining the sequence of amino acids in proteins.
That sequence of amino acids:
Controls how the protein folds,
Which determines the protein’s shape and function,
And ultimately affects everything from your eye color to how your muscles grow.
DNA gives the instructions — like a recipe.
Amino acids are the ingredients — put in the order the DNA says.
Hydrogen bonds (and other forces) are like the cooking process — they make the protein fold into the final, working shape.
what are the biggist biological molecules
Book version: Nucleic acids, composed of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphorus atoms, are the largest biological molecules in the body. Their building blocks, nucleotides (nu′kle-o-tīdz), are quite complex. Each consists of three basic parts: (1) a nitrogen-containing base, (2) a pentose (5-carbon) sugar, and (3) a phosphate group
How I learned
Nucleic acids (like DNA and RNA) are the largest biological molecules in your body.
Nucleic acids are made from building blocks called nucleotides.
Each nucleotide is made of three parts:
A nitrogen-containing base (A, T, C, G, or U),
A pentose sugar (5-carbon sugar),
A phosphate group (which contains phosphorus).
Those parts (the base, sugar, and phosphate group) are made from atoms like carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
nueclitieds base
The bases come in five varieties: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U). A and G are large, nitrogen-containing bases made up of two carbon rings, whereas C, T and U are smaller, single-ring structures. The nucleotides are named according to the base they contain: A-containing bases are adenine nucleotides, C-containing bases are cytosine nucleotides, and so on.
Each nucleotide contains a specific nitrogen base, and that base helps determine which nucleic acid it’s part of:
The diffrence between Dna and Rna
The two major kinds of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic (de-ok″sĭ-ri″bo-nu-kle′ik) acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA and RNA differ in many respects. DNA is the genetic material found within the cell nucleus (the control center of the cell). It has two fundamental roles: (1) It replicates itself exactly before a cell can divide, thus ensuring that every body cell gets an identical copy of the genetic information; and (2) it provides the instructions for building every protein in the body. For the most part, RNA functions outside the nucleus and can be considered the “molecular assistant” of DNA; that is, RNA carries out the orders for protein synthesis issued by DNA.
DNA and RNA are the two main nucleic acids.
DNA is the genetic material inside the cell nucleus. It stores instructions for making proteins and replicates to ensure every new cell gets the same genetic information.
RNA is DNA’s “assistant” and works outside the nucleus. It carries out the orders for protein synthesis based on DNA’s instructions.
Key differences:
DNA is a double-stranded helix with bases A, T, C, G, and deoxyribose sugar.
RNA is single-stranded, has bases A, U, C, G (U replaces T), and ribose sugar.
There are three types of RNA:
mRNA: carries DNA’s instructions to the ribosomes.
tRNA: brings amino acids to ribosomes.
rRNA: forms part of the ribosomes and helps assemble proteins.
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the essential energy source for all body cells. Without it, cells can’t build or break molecules, maintain membranes, or carry out life processes.
Although glucose stores energy, cells can’t use it directly. Instead, as glucose is broken down (oxidized), its energy is transferred to ATP — similar to how crude oil must be refined into gasoline before it can power a car.
ATP is a modified RNA nucleotide made of adenine, ribose, and three phosphate groups. The bonds between these phosphate groups store high energy due to the repelling negative charges. When ATP’s terminal phosphate is broken off (by hydrolysis), energy is released for the cell to use for work like chemical reactions, transport, or muscle contractions. This forms ADP, which is later recharged into ATP using energy from food.
ATP acts like a coiled spring, releasing energy when “unclicked.”
