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DNA and RNA Structure and Function

DNA and RNA

- DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material of all organisms and contains the information needed to
specify protein synthesis (Fig. 2.18)

- RNA (ribonucleic acid) has multiple functions including being a key player in protein synthesis and regulating
gene expression (Fig. 2.18)

Nucleotides and Nucleic Acid Structure

- Nucleic acids are long polymers of nucleotides bonded covalently together

- Nucleotides consist of a 5-carbon sugar, a nitrogenous base, and phosphate groups

- The sugar in RNA is ribose, the sugar in DNA is deoxyribose which differs by lacking a hydroxyl group on the
2' carbon (Fig. 2.18)

- The bases are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and either thymine (T) in DNA or uracil (U) in RNA

DNA Structure and Function

- DNA contains the genetic code and transmits hereditary information from parents to offspring

- DNA directs protein synthesis through its sequence of nucleotides specifying the amino acid sequence of
proteins

RNA Structure and Function

- RNA has multiple roles including being a key player in protein synthesis (messenger RNA carries DNA code to
ribosomes) and regulating gene expression (microRNAs)

- The sugar in RNA is ribose allowing its structure to fold in unique ways important for its functions (Fig. 2.18)

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