1. DNA
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is made of a 5 – carbon sugar (ribose), a nucleotide (ACTG), and a phosphate group (PO4).

2. Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids carry the genetic information in genes that is necessary to assemble all of the macromolecules of the body. 
There are 2 types of nucleic acids: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA- ATCG) and ribonucleic acid (RNA-AUCG).

3. Classes of Nucleic Acids
Pyrimidines
6 member ring of carbon and nitrogen
Cytosine (C), Thymine (T), & Uracil (U)
T - only in DNA, U - only in RNA, & C - both DNA & RNA
RNA
DNA

4. Classes of Nucleic Acids
Purines
Are larger with a 6 member ring of carbon and nitrogen fused to a 5 member ring
Adenine (A), and Guanine (G)
A & G are found in both DNA & RNA

5. DNA Structure “Sugar – phosphate backbone”
A phosphate is attached to the 5' carbon of the pentose ring
Are linked by phosphodiester linkage (via dehydration synthesis) between the 3' C (OH) & the 5'C (PO4)of the next nucleotide
the sugar-phosphate backbone is on the outside and the nucleotide groups are on the inside
results in a repeating sugar - phosphate backbone
DNA - double stranded a-double helix (RNA - single stranded)
The 2 strands in DNA are antiparallel
Moving in opposite directions

6. Chargaff’s Rule
1947 – Erwin Chargaff demonstrated that although different organisms had differing amounts of DNA, the ration of the 4 nucleotides remained constant. Human DNA showed the following:
A %
T %
G %
C %
The similarity of A/T & C/G became known as Chargaff's rule.
Complimentary Base Pairing
C pairs with G
A pairs with T or U
5'-A C T G G -3'
3'-T G A C^C -5'