MICR 2340 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4.1-4.6: Transposable Element, The Double Helix, Ribosomal Rna
Document Summary
Function unit of genetic info is a gene they are located on chromosomes, and all life forms have genes. The genetic information is embedded in nucleic acids dna (blueprint of cell) and rna (intermediary molecule, converts the sequences into proteins). Nucleic acids are information macromolecules because the sequence of monomers in proteins is determined by the sequence of those nucleic acids. Nucleic acid monomers are called nucleotides and dna are polynucleotides. A nucleotide consists of a pentose sugar (deoxyribose or ribose), a nitrogen base and a molecule of phosphate. Nitrogen bases are purine (adenine and guanine) or pyrimidines (thymine, cytosine and uracil). A glyosidic linkage attaches the nitrogen bases to the pentose sugar at carbon 1. Nucleotides like atp and gtp are important in energy conservation. The nucleic acid backbone is a polymer of alternating sugar phosphate molecules, covalently bonded by a phosphate between 3" and 5" carbons on the sugar (the prime refers to the positon on the sugar).
