http://www.ck12.org Chapter 3. Chemical Interactions
3.40 Nucleic Acid Classification
- Define nucleic acid, and name two types of nucleic acids.
- Describe the structure of nucleic acids.
- Identify the functions of nucleic acids.
Did you ever see a spiral staircase like the one in the opening image? The steps connect the two sides of the staircase,
which winds around a central axis. A spiral staircase can be used as a model for a DNA molecule. DNA is a nucleic
acid.
Q:DNA is such a well-known molecule that you probably know something about it already. What do you know
about DNA, and why do you think this molecule is so “famous”?
A:You many know that DNA contains genes. It is so “famous” because it explains how we inherit traits from our
parents and pass them on to our offspring.
What Are Nucleic Acids?
Nucleic acidsare one of four classes of biochemical molecules. (The other three classes are carbohydrates, proteins,
and lipids.) Nucleic acids include RNA (ribonucleic acid) as well as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Both types of
nucleic acids contain the elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
Q:Which of the elements in DNA is not found in any other class of biochemical compounds?