What is nucleotides, Biology

Assignment Help:

What is Nucleotides?

Nucleotides are the basic building blocks of nucleic acids. Each nucleotide is composed of a nitrogen base, a 5-carbon sugar called a pentose, and an associated phosphate group.

The nitrogen bases are composed of either a single-ringed structure called a pyrimidine or a double-ringed purine. Uracil, thymine,and cytosine are pyrimidines, composed of a single ring of carbon and nitrogen atoms. Adenine and guanine are purines, compounds with a double ring of six carbon and five nitrogen atoms.

2396_the pyrimidine bases.png

Each type of nucleic acid contains four nitrogen bases, two pyrimidines, and two purines. DNA molecules contain thymine, cytosine, adenine, and guanine. RNA molecules also contain cytosine, adenine, and guanine, but substitute uracil in place of thymine.

The sugar component of nucleotides also differs between the two types of nucleic acids. The sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, hence the full name, deoxyribonucleic acid, and the sugar in RNA is ribose, leading to the name ribonucleic acid.

Nucleotides (monomers) form polymers by joining the phosphate group of one nucleotide to the phosphate group of the next. This process creates a "backbone" of alternating sugar and phosphate groups. Nitrogen bases are attached to the 5-carbon sugar part of the nucleotide, extending along one side of the nucleic acid molecule.


Related Discussions:- What is nucleotides

Calculate temperature for survival & growth of microorganism, Calculate Tem...

Calculate Temperature for Survival and Growth of Microorganisms? Survival and growth of microorganisms is also affected by the temperature. According to their temperature requi

Environment , Environment All organisms are intimately dependent on the ...

Environment All organisms are intimately dependent on the environment from which they derive their sustenance. Organisms from virus to man are obligatorily dependent on the envi

Define types of indicators, Define Types of Indicators? Macro indicator...

Define Types of Indicators? Macro indicators are used at strategic levels while micro indicators are used at performance levels. From the previous sections it is clear that man

Explain japanese encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis  Japanese encephal...

Japanese encephalitis  Japanese encephalitis is an uncommon but potentially fatal mosquito-borne viral disease that occurs in rural Asia, especially near pig farms and rice pad

Cerebellum, what is the work of cerebellum

what is the work of cerebellum

Regents for estimation of vitamin c - colorimetric method, Define Regents f...

Define Regents for Estimation of Vitamin C - Colorimetric Method? 1. 2, 4 dinitrophenylhydrazine reagent - Dissolve 2 g of dinitrophenyl hydrazine in 100 ml of 9N sulphuric aci

What is electrocardiogarm, Q. What is Electrocardiogarm? Poor R-wave pr...

Q. What is Electrocardiogarm? Poor R-wave progression, in precordial leads, or q-waves in anterior leads. Intraventricular conduction defects, esqecially LBBB are common. There

Adaptations, what are some adaptations of flatworms

what are some adaptations of flatworms

Waste produced during surgical process, Q. Waste produced during surgical p...

Q. Waste produced during surgical process? Regular garbage: Regular garbage generated from clerical office procedures or kitchen waste should be disposed of within the usu

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd