1. Nucleic Acids Examples DNA RNA ATP DeoxyriboNucleic Acid
Adenosine TriPhosphate
DNA
Double Helix

2. Nucleic Acids Function: genetic material stores information
chromosomes
Nucleic Acids
Function:
genetic material
stores information
genes
blueprint for building proteins
DNA  RNA  proteins
(protein Synthesis)
transfers information
blueprint for new cells
blueprint for next generation
Reproduction

3. Smallest To Largest nucleotide nucleic acid genes (bands) nucleus in
the cell
chromosome

4. Nucleic acids 5 different nucleotides Building block =
nucleotides (monomer)
one
strand
nucleotide – nucleotide – nucleotide – nucleotide
5 different nucleotides
different nitrogen bases
A, T, C, G, U
Nitrogen bases I’m the A,T,C,G or U part!
Phosphate
PO4
Sugar
-ose
N base
DNA – deoxyribose
RNA and ATP - ribose

5. sugar-phosphate backbone
N base
Nucleotide chains
Nucleic acids
nucleotides chained into a polymer
DNA
double-sided
double helix
A, C, G, T
RNA
single-sided
A, C, G, U
phosphate
sugar
N base
strong bonds
phosphate
sugar
N base
sugar-phosphate backbone
phosphate
sugar
N base

6. complementary bases “fit” together
DNA
Double strand twists into a double helix
weak bonds – hydrogen bonds form between nitrogen bases join the 2 strands
A pairs with T
A :: T
C pairs with G
C :: G
the two strands can separate
when our cells need to make
copies of it – need enzymes
and ATP
complementary bases “fit” together
weak bonds
shown as
dotted lines
It’s a helix or B sheet within a single region. Can have both in one protein but a specific region is one or another

7. Copying DNA Replication copy DNA
2 strands of DNA helix are complementary
they are matching
have one, can build other
have one, can rebuild the whole
when cells divide, they must duplicate DNA exactly for the new “daughter” cells
Why is this a good system?

8. Watson and Crick … and others…
1953 | 1962
Watson and Crick … and others…