Nucleic Acid

• Nucleic acids play an essential role in passing on genetic

information from generation to generation.

• This genetic information determines the structure of living things

and the nature of the chemical reactions that go on inside them.

• The two main types of nucleic acid are polynucleotides formed by

condensation polymerization, these are; are deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). The structure of
 DNA
• DNA contains a genetic code that determines the specific amino acid
sequence for all the proteins in the body.

Two important functions of DNA in a living organism are;

• DNA can make copies of itself so that the genetic information can be passed
on from generation to generation.
• DNA contains a sequence of bases that form a genetic code used to
synthesize proteins.
 Components of DNA
• A sugar called deoxyribose (which has a five-
membered rings)
• A phosphate group (attached by a phosphoester
link to deoxyribose)
• A nitrogen-containing base (of which there are
four types).
DNA Bases
• The nitrogen-containing bases (with their abbreviations) are:
• adenine (A)
• guanine (G)
• thymine (T)
• cytosine (C).
In DNA
each strand has a backbone of alternating sugar and
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phosphate units; this is on the outside of the structure

the two strands run in opposite directions to each other (compare the 3ʹ and 5ʹ
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positions of the deoxyribose sugar units in the two chains.

the two strands are twisted to form a double helix
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the nitrogen-containing bases link the two strands

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the bases are positioned at right angles to the long axis of the helix (rather like
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a pile of coins)
the bases are linked by hydrogen bonds.
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The structure of DNA is kept stable by:
■ hydrogen bonds between the base pairs
■ van der Waals’ attractive forces between one base pair and
the next.

The bases on one strand always link to a particular base on the other strand
forming complementary base pairs.
DNA Replication
• The process of copying DNA during cell division is called replication.

• Replication is a complex process requiring a number of different

enzymes and other compounds. Although you do not need to explain
this process in detail, it is interesting
• To see how it works. A simplified model of replication is
• shown in Figure Below.
DNA Replication contd
• The hydrogen bonds and van der Waals’ forces between them base
pairs in part of a DNA molecule are broken.
• This part of the double helix unwinds.
• Nucleotide triphosphates are brought up one by one to the separated
part of the chain.
• Enzymes catalyse the polymerisation reaction..
• Each new strand contains a sequence of bases that is complementary
to the original strand. So if the order of bases in part of the original
strand is:
Complementary Base Pairing
• Each new strand contains a sequence of bases that is complementary
to the original strand. So if the order of bases in part of the original
strand is:

then the complementary sequence on the new strand is:

The two double helices formed are identical. Each double helix contains one strand from
the old DNA and one newly synthesized strand. This is called semi-conservative
replication as shown below: