What are the basic building blocks of nucleic acids? What
kinds of sugars and bases are found in DNA? In RNA?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The basic building blocks of nucleic acids are nucleotides, which consist of three components: a nitrogenous base, a sugar molecule, and a phosphate group.
Sugars:
- DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid): The sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, which has one less oxygen atom than ribose. This is the key difference between DNA and RNA. Deoxyribose has a hydrogen atom attached to the 2′ carbon, while ribose in RNA has a hydroxyl group (-OH) at the same position.
- RNA (Ribonucleic Acid): The sugar in RNA is ribose, which has a hydroxyl group (-OH) at the 2′ carbon. This difference in sugars gives RNA different structural properties compared to DNA.
Nitrogenous Bases:
There are two types of nitrogenous bases found in nucleic acids: purines and pyrimidines.
- In DNA:
- Adenine (A) – a purine
- Thymine (T) – a pyrimidine
- Cytosine (C) – a pyrimidine
- Guanine (G) – a purine In DNA, adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G) via hydrogen bonds.
- In RNA:
- Adenine (A) – a purine
- Uracil (U) – a pyrimidine (replaces thymine in RNA)
- Cytosine (C) – a pyrimidine
- Guanine (G) – a purine In RNA, adenine (A) pairs with uracil (U), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G).
The sequence of these nucleotides in DNA and RNA determines genetic information, and their complementary base pairing is crucial for processes like DNA replication and RNA transcription.
Now, I will generate an image showing the structures of nucleotides for both DNA and RNA.
Here is the illustration showing the structures of nucleotides for both DNA and RNA. It highlights the sugar differences (deoxyribose vs. ribose) and the nitrogenous bases that are found in each, as well as the complementary base pairing. Let me know if you need further clarification!
