Animal Biotechnology

Composition of Nucleic acid

COMPOSITION OF NUCLEIC ACIDS

• Nucleic acids consist of a chemically linked sequence of nucleotides. Each nucleotide contains a heterocyclic ring of carbon and nitrogen atoms (the nitrogenous base), a five carbon sugar in ring form (a pentose) and a phosphate group.
• Two types of pentose are found in nucleic acids. These distinguish DNA and RNA and give rise to the general names for the two types of nucleic acid. In DNA the pentose is 2-deoxy ribose whereas in RNA it is ribose.
• View the animation of Nucleotides and Pentose sugars