1. Nucleic Acids The amino acid sequence of a polypeptide is programmed by genes. Genes consist of DNA, which is a polymer belonging to the class of compounds known as nucleic acids.

2. Function Direct growth and development of every living thing by means of a chemical code. Determine how the cell functions and what characteristics it has. Made up of long chains of linked subunits called nucleotides. Monomers of nucleic acids are nucleotides.

3. Nucleotide 1.Sugar ( deoxyribose, ribose) 2.Phosphate Group 3.Nitrogen Base : Adenine Thymine Cystosine Guanine

5. Nucleic Acids Store and Transmit Hereditary Information The two types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). They enable living organisms to reproduce their complex components from one generation to the next. DNA provides directions for its own replication.

6. DNA Deoxyribonucleic Acid Main component of genes, the hereditary material in all cells. Made up of Adenine, Guanine, Thymine, Cytosine. Two nucleotide chains joins together into a double helix.

8. RNA Contains instructions for making proteins. Made up of four nucleotides acting as counterparts to the DNA. Consists of a single long chain of nucleotides. Made up of Adenine, Uracil, Cytosine and Guanine.

10. A pyrimidine has a six-membered ring of carbon and nitrogenous atoms – they are cytosine, thymine, and uracil. Purines are larger and have a six-membered ring fused to a five-membered ring – adenine and guanine.

11. We Can Use DNA and Proteins As Tape Measures of Evolution Genes and their products document the hereditary background of an organism. Since DNA molecules are passed through generations, related individuals have greater similarities in their DNA than unrelated individuals do