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

Nucleic Acids

General Functions: Nucleic acids store and transmit hereditary information

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

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)

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)

DNA

DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid DNA is found in every cell.

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

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)

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??

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

RNA

RNA is ribonucleic acid RNA is found in every cell.

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

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

RNA is composed of 4 different bases

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.

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

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

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?

If you finish early then you may play the DNA game again. http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/medicine/dna_double_helix/

Wrap-up What are 2 examples of nucleic acids?

BUILDING DNA