DNA

Our genetic material is made of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). DNA is the complex chemical that carries
genetic information. DNA is located in the cell nucleus, but a small amount of DNA can also be found
in the mitochondria (mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).

RNA
ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid present in all living cells. Its principal role is to act as a messenger
carrying instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins, although in some viruses RNA
rather than DNA carries the genetic information.

NUCLEOTIDE
A nucleotide is an organic molecule that is the building
block of DNA and RNA. They also have functions related to
cell signaling, metabolism, and enzyme reactions. A
nucleotide is made up of three parts: a phosphate group,
a 5-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

RIBOSE
a sugar of the pentose class that occurs widely in nature as a constituent
of nucleosides and several vitamins and enzymes.

DEOXYRIBOSE
a sugar derived from ribose by replacing a hydroxyl group with hydrogen.

PURINE BASES & PYRIMIDINE OF DNA

The purine and pyrimidine bases of the DNA molecule form the bonds that
encode the genetic information of all living things. The two purine bases are
adenine and guanine while the pyrimidine bases are thymine and cytosine.
Adenine bonds only with thymine and guanine bonds with cytosine, these
bonds forming the rungs of the DNA ladder.

The discovery of DNA

How was DNA first discovered and who discovered it? Read on to find out...
It is a common misconception that James Watson and Francis Crick discovered
DNA? in the 1950s. In reality, DNA was discovered decades before. It was by
following the work of the pioneers before them that James and Francis were
able to come to their ground-breaking conclusion about the structure of DNA
in 1953.

IMPORTANCE OF DNA AND RNA

The DNA is the biological molecule that stores all the genetic information of
the cell (in some viruses RNA may function as the molecule that stores the
genetic information). Everything that the cells has to do, at what time in its
life cycle, and how it has to do it is determined by the information contained
in the DNA molecule. In addition, DNA functions as the molecule that carries
on the genetic information from parent to offspring.

RNA is made when the complex biochemical decodification machinery of the

cell acts on the DNA to extract the information needed for a particular
function. RNA is a key factor for protein synthesis. RNA is responsible for
transferring the information contained in the DNA to make a particular
protein needed in a specific process for a specific function. Messenger RNA
(mRNA) is the nucleic acid that brings information (from the nucleus to the
cytoplasm) about which protein to make, and transfer RNA (tRNA) is
responsible for transporting aminoacids to the ribosomes to make the
required proteins. There is also regulatory RNA, that is RNA molecules
capable of regulating gene expression by different mechanisms such as
interference or blocking.

STRAND OF DNA AND RNA

NA is double stranded.RNA is single stranded (though sometimes folded back

on itself, as in tRNA). DNA is found in the nucleus (in eukaryotes) or free-
floating in the cytoplasm (in prokaryotes), RNA is found pretty much
anywhere, depending on the type of RNA.

In viruses:

DNA can be double or single stranded. DNA or RNA are found within the
protein coat of the virus.RNA can be double or single stranded