Nucleic acids consist of either one or two long chains of
repeating units called nucleotides, which consist of a
nitrogen base (a purine or pyrimidine) attached to a
sugar phosphate. Nucleic acids are important because
they make up genetic information in living things.
Functions of nucleic acids are:
 The main functions is store and transfer
genetic information.
 To use the genetic information to direct the
synthesis of new protein.
 The deoxyribonucleic acid is the storage for
place for genetic information in the cell.
 DNA controls the synthesis of RNA in the
cell.
 The genetic information is transmitted from
DNA to the protein synthesizers in the cell.
 RNA also directs the production of new
protein by transmitting genetic information
to the protein building structures.
 The function of the nitrogenous base
sequences in the DNA backbone determines
the proteins being synthesized.
 The function of the double helix of the DNA
is that no disorders occur in the genetic
information if it is lost or damaged.
 RNA directs synthesis of proteins.
 m-RNA takes genetic message from RNA.
 t-RNA transfers activated amino acid, to the
site of protein synthesis.
 r-RNA are mostly present in the ribosomes,
and responsible for stability of m-RNA.
Two Types of Nucleic Acids:
1. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
 DNA is one of the macromolecules, they are
essential to all living forms.
 Deoxyribonucleic acid contains the genetic
information, it is used in the development
and functioning of all living organisms.
 The DNA segments carry genetic
information are called the genes.
 Other DNA segments have structural
functions or regulate the genetic
information.
 DNA are made of two chains made of
polymer units of nucleotides.
 The backbones of DNA are made
of sugar and phosphate groups which are
joined by ester bonds.
 The two strands of DNA are anti-parallel,
they run in opposite directions.
 Each sugar molecule is attached to one of
the four nucleobases.
 The nucleobases encode genetic
information, that is read using the genetic
code.
2. RNA (ribonucleic acid)
 The functions of ribonucleic acid is to
convert genetic information from genes into
amino acid sequences of protein.
 In some viruses, RNA contains the genetic
information.
 RNA is of three types, they are tRNA
(transfer RNA), mRNA (messenger RNA)
and rRNA (ribosomal RNA).
 Messenger RNA, as the name suggests acts
a messenger. It carries genetic information
sequences between DNA and ribosomes,
and it also directs protein synthesis.
 rRNA is a major component of the
ribososmes, they catalyze the formation of
peptide bond.
 The tRNA act as a carrier molecule for the
amino acids that are used in protein
synthesis. The tRNA are also responsible for
decoding the mRNA.