1. Nucleic Acids

2. What is a Nucleic Acid
Nucleic acids are made of the following elements: C, H, O, N, P (Phosphorus)
Nucleotides are the monomers of DNA and RNA
Nucleic acids end in “ine” ex. Adenine

3. Structure of Nucleic Acids
The monomers of nucleic acids are nucleotides
The polymers of nucleic acids are DNA and RNA

4. Structure of Nucleic Acids cont.
Nucleotides look like the following:
Each contain a:
Phosphate group
5 carbon sugar(pentagon)
Nitrogenous base

5. 5 carbon Sugars

6. Structure of Nucleic Acids cont.
4 main types of nitrogenous bases:
Guanine
Cytosine
Adenine
Thymine (uracil in RNA)

7. How Nucleic Acids work
Nucleotides connect together in specific sequences to transmit information.
Certain nucleotides ALWAYS bind together (Cytosine + Guanine, Adenine + Thymine(uracil))

8. Nucleic acids are found in DNA and RNA

9. Function of Nucleic Acids
DNA and RNA are essential for transmitting genetic information in all life forms