Nucleic Acids DNA and RNA

Hundreds of thousands of proteins exist inside each one of us to help carry out our daily functions. These proteins are produced locally, assembled piece-by-piece to exact specifications

This information, detailing the specific structure of the proteins inside of our bodies, is stored in a set of molecules called nucleic acids.

Different pentose sugars in RNA & DNA RNA DNA Sugar carbons have prime numbers, to distinguish them from atoms in bases

Heterocyclic Nitrogen Bases RNA DNA

WATSON-CRICK MODEL Combination of two single strands The Double Helix Sugar-phosphate backbone outside, bases inside 1953

WATSON-CRICK MODEL Bases form specific base pairs , held together by hydrogen bonds Structure compatible with any sequence of bases

Watson-Crick base pairs Hydrogen bonds are weaker than covalent bonds (eg. C-C or C-N) Covalent bonds determine structure, Weak hydrogen bonds - Stabilize double helix

It is a linear strand of DNA in combination with nuclear proteins We refer to this complex of DNA and proteins as chromatin It is a linear array of genes As a set - they are our genome What is a chromosome?