DNA & RNA
Maddie Hopkins // January 13, 2014
DNA {deoxyribonucleic acid}
DNA are assembled of monomers called nucleotides. Nucleotides are made of three basic components; a 5-carbon sugar known widely as deoxyribose, a phosphate group, and finally a nitrogen base.
{below is a picture depicting the nucleotide of a DNA molecule}
The 4 Nitrogen Bases
Adenine and Thymine pair together because they're in the compound group of Purines. The other two nitrogen bases, Guanine and Cytosine, pair together because they're found in the compound group of Pyrimidines.
RNA {ribonucleic acid}
mRNA is mainly used to carry genetic information from the nucleus and to ribosomes where it can be translated to form proteins.
tRNA is mainly used to read the mRNA to be able to synthesize proteins.
rRNA mainly makes up ribosomes.
Differences in DNA & RNA
- has a double stranded structure called a double helix
- has deoxyribose
- contains Thymine
RNA
- has a single stranded structure
- has ribose
- contains the nitrogen base Uracil which replaces Thymine and pairs with the base Adenine
Structure of DNA molecule
Structure of RNA molecule
Nitrogen Base Pair
Protein Synthesis
Transcription
Translation
{below is a picture depicting the process of translation}