Nucleic Acids
Largest molecules made by organisms. They store the info a cell needs to
make proteins.
1. DNA- Genetic material. Template for all
proteins. Controls RNA.
2. RNA- Smaller genetic material. Directs
protein synthesis.
Nucleic acids contain both nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) which helps to
identify them.
Nucleotide: The building block of all nucleic acids. You put many nucleotides
together to make DNA. All nucleotides are made of 3 parts, a phosphate molecule
(P), a 5 carbon sugar, and a nitrogen base. The nitrogen base provides the genetic
code.
The diagram below shows a nucleotide in its molecular form. Nucleotides are
building block forms of all nucleic acids.
Slichter