Nucleic Acids
By: Akhilesh Pillai and Sasha Kiatsuranon
The Monomer of Nucleic Acid
The name of the monomer of nucleic acid is nucleotide. They are also organic molecules composed of a nitrogen base and 5 carbon sugar and at least one phosphate group. They carry energy within the cell.
The Polymer of Nucleic Acid
The polymer that Nucleic Acids make up are DNA and RNA. The Nucleic Acid helps build up the DNA by building macro-molecules with proteins and carbohydrates.
Macro-Molecule
Structure of the macro-molecule of DNA and RNA.
DNA and RNA
Macro-molecule
Examples of Nucleic Acids
Here are a few examples of Nucleic Acids:
- Cloning vector- small piece of DNA that can be taken from another organism and put into another DNA fragment for cloning
- DNA
- RNA
- Nucleic Acid Analogues- compounds which are analogous structure to naturally occurring RNA and DNA used in medicine and molecular biology research
Nucleic Acid Structure
Nucleic Acid Analogues
The Cloning Vector
Functional Groups Found in Nucleic Acids
The Nucleic Acid has five carbon sugar or pentose, the base of nitrogen and a phosphate group.
Common Functions of Nucleic Acids
- Supporting our DNA and RNA
- Transfer of genetic information
- Store genetic material
How does its structure allow for its function?
The structure helps because the hexagonal structure can help the acid build long chains and link to other monomers to make one big polymer.