1. Objective:
Students will be able to identify the monomers of nucleic acids and their characteristics
Students will distinguish differences between RNA and DNA

2. Nucleic Acids

3. General Functions:
Nucleic acids store and transmit hereditary information

4. Nucleic Acids
Elements: C, H, O, N, P
Monomer: nucleotide

5. Nucleotides Phosphate group Sugar: deoxyribose or ribose
Nitrogen Base:
either A, C, G, T and U
There 5 different nucleotides (The only difference between them is their nitrogen base: Uracil, Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine and Adenine)

6. Examples of Nucleic Acids
Polynucleotides: Polymers of nucleic acids
RNA (ribonucleic acid)
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
**Difference is in the type of sugar and the way they form the polymer (DNA is double stranded, RNA is single stranded)

7. DNA

8. DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA is found in every cell.

9. DNA molecule Double strand of DNA nucleotides
2 strands held together with hydrogen bonds
Strands spiraled into a double helix
Nitrogen bases pair:
Adenine with Thymine
Cytosine with Guanine

10. DNA Functions:. -Stores genetic information. (inherited traits)
DNA Functions: -Stores genetic information (inherited traits) -Directs the cell’s activities (tells your cells what to become)

11. DNA location: found in the chromosomes of a cell (in the nucleus).
Humans have 46 chromosomes in each of their cells… except their sex cells (sperm and egg)
WHY??

12. DNA is able to make copies of itself (process called replication)
DNA is able to make copies of itself (process called replication). This makes it possible for DNA to be passed from parents to offspring ** only passes half of copied chromosomes to sex cells

13. RNA

14. RNA is ribonucleic acid
RNA is found in every cell.

15. RNA location
RNA can be found both inside and outside of the nucleus.

16. RNA Molecule Single strand of RNA nucleotides Sugar= ribose
Nitrogen Bases:
Base Pairs: Adenine and Uracil
Cytosine and Guanine

17. RNA is composed of 4 different bases

18. Function of RNA
Main function is to facilitate the translation of DNA into proteins
What does that (translation) mean?
DNA has a code to make proteins but DNA cannot leave the nucleus. RNA copies the message from the DNA and takes it to where the protein is being made.

19. Differences Between DNA and RNA
DNA RNA
Sugar molecule
Deoxyribose
Ribose
Bases
A, G, C, and T
A, G, C, and U
# of strands
Double-stranded
Single-stranded
Location
Nucleus
Nucleus or cytoplasm

20. Review of Functions RNA: synthesizes protein
DNA: provides the instructions for synthesis of proteins and stores genetic information

21. DNA base pairing interactive
DNA replication:
For DNA, which bases pair with which bases?
Protein Synthesis
For RNA, what change is there in the base pairing?

22. If you finish early then you may play the DNA game again.

23. Wrap-up
What are 2 examples of nucleic acids?

24. BUILDING DNA