Chemistry project

Nucleic Acid: DNA and RNA

Made by- Arnav Sharma

Class -12 A
St. Xavier’s Senior Secondary School ,Chandigarh
Session — 2023-2024
 Acknowledgement
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to “Miss
Ruchi Gupta” who gave me this golden opportunity to do this
wonderful project on the topic ‘ Ancient Indian Medicines and
Medicinal Plants’ which helped in my research.
Secondly i would like to thank my parents and my sister to
provide me with proper equipment and basic knowledge to make this
project possible
 Index
Nucleic acids 4

DNA- Introduction, types 5

Structure of DNA 6,7

DNA Functions 8

DNA Replication 9,10

Structure and Introduction of RNA 11

Types of RNA 12

Functions of RNA 13

Difference DNA and RNA 14

Bibliography 15
 What are Nucleic Acids?
Nucleic acids are long-chain polymeric molecules, the
monomer (the repeating unit) is known as the nucleotides
and hence sometimes nucleic acids are referred to as
polynucleotides.
There are two types of nucleic acids:
● Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
● Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA)
DNA is a group of molecules that is responsible for carrying and transmitting the
hereditary materials or the genetic instructions from parents to offsprings.
It is an organic compound that has a unique molecular structure. It is found in all
prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells..

Types of DNA
● A-DNA
● B-DNA
● Z-DNA
Structure of DNA
The DNA structure can be thought of as a twisted ladder. This structure is described as a double-helix . The
DNA molecule is composed of units called nucleotides, and each nucleotide is composed of three different
components such as sugar, phosphate groups and nitrogen bases.

The basic building blocks of DNA are nucleotides, which are composed of a sugar group, a phosphate group,
and a nitrogen base. The sugar and phosphate groups link the nucleotides together to form each strand of DNA.
Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G) and Cytosine (C) are four types of nitrogen bases.
These 4 Nitrogenous bases pair together in the following way: A with T, and C with G. These base
pairs are essential for the DNA’s double helix structure, which resembles a twisted ladder.The order
of the nitrogenous bases determines the genetic code or the DNA’s instructions
Sugar is the one which forms the backbone of the
DNA molecule. It is also called deoxyribose. The
nitrogenous bases of the opposite strands form
hydrogen bonds, forming a ladder-like
structure.The DNA molecule consists of 4
nitrogen bases, namely adenine (A), thymine (T),
cytosine (C) and Guanine (G), which ultimately form the structure of a nucleotide. The A and G
are purines, and the C and T are pyrimidines.
The two strands of DNA run in opposite directions. These strands are held together by the
hydrogen bond that is present between the two complementary bases. The strands are
helically twisted, where each strand forms a right-handed coil, and ten nucleotides make up
a single turn.
 DNA Functions
Apart from storing genetic information, DNA is involved in:
● Replication process: Transferring the genetic information from
one cell to its daughters and from one generation to the next and
equal distribution of DNA during the cell division
● Mutations: The changes which occur in the DNA sequences
● Transcription
● Cellular Metabolism
● DNA Fingerprinting
● Gene Therapy
 DNA Replication
DNA replication is an important process that occurs during cell division. It is also known
as semi-conservative replication, during which DNA makes a copy of itself.

DNA Replication takes place in three stages:

Step 1(Initiation) →

The replication of DNA begins at a point known as the origin of replication. The two
DNA strands are separated by the DNA helicase. This forms the replication fork.

Step 2 (Elongation) →
DNA polymerase III reads the nucleotides on the template strand and makes a new
strand by adding complementary nucleotides one after the other. For eg., if it reads an
Adenine on the template strand, it will add a Thymine on the complementary strand.
While adding nucleotides to the lagging strand, gaps are formed between the strands.
These gaps are known as Okazaki fragments. These gaps or nicks are sealed by ligase.

Step 3 (Termination) →

The termination sequence present opposite to the origin of replication terminates the
replication process. The TUS protein (terminus utilization substance) binds to terminator
sequence and halts DNA polymerase movement. It induces termination.
 Structure of RNA
The ribonucleic acid has all the components same to that of the DNA
with only 2 main differences within it. RNA has the same nitrogen
bases called the adenine, Guanine, Cytosine as that of the DNA except
for the Thymine which is replaced by the uracil. Adenine and uracil are
considered as the major building blocks of RNA and both of them form
base-pair with the help of 2 hydrogen bonds.

RNA resembles a hairpin structure and like the nucleotides in DNA,

nucleotides are formed in this ribonucleic material(RNA). Nucleosides
are nothing but the phosphate groups which sometimes also helps in
the production of nucleotides in the DNA.
 Types of RNA
There are various types of RNA, out which most well-known and most commonly
studied in the human body are :
● tRNA-Transfer RNA
The transfer RNA is held responsible for choosing the correct protein or the amino
acids required by the body in-turn helping the ribosomes. It is located at the
endpoints of each amino acid. This is also called as soluble RNA and it forms a link
between the messenger RNA and the amino acid.

● rRNA- Ribosomal RNA

The rRNA is the component of the ribosome and are located within the in the
cytoplasm of a cell, where ribosomes are found. In all living cells, the ribosomal
RNA plays a fundamental role in the synthesis and translation of mRNA into
proteins. The rRNA is mainly composed of cellular RNA and are the most
predominant RNA within the cells of all living beings.
 Functions of RNA
The different types of RNA are involved in various cellular process. The primary
functions of RNA:

● Facilitate the translation of DNA into proteins

● Functions as an adapter molecule in protein synthesis
● Serves as a messenger between the DNA and the ribosomes.
● They are the carrier of genetic information in all living cells
● Promotes the ribosomes to choose the right amino acid which is required in
building up of new proteins in the body.
● mRNA -Messenger RNA

This type of RNA functions by transferring the genetic material into the
ribosomes and pass the instructions about the type of proteins, required
by the body cells. Based on the functions, these types of RNA is called
the messenger RNA. Therefore, the mRNA plays a vital role in the
process of transcription or during the protein synthesis process.
Difference between Deoxyribonucleic Ribonucleic acid
DNA and RNA acid (DNA) (RNA)
Definition- It is a long polymer. It Definition is a polymer with a
has a deoxyribose and phosphate ribose and phosphate backbone
backbone having four distinct with four varying bases: uracil,
bases: thymine, adenine, cytosine cytosine, adenine and guanine
and guanine

Location - It is located in the Location - It is found in the

nucleus of a cell and in the cytoplasm, nucleus and in the
mitochondria. ribosome.

Function -The transmission of Function -the transmission of the

genetic information. It acts as a genetic code that is necessary for
medium for long-term storage. protein creation from the nucleus to
the ribosome.

Propagation - DNA replicates on its Propagation - RNA does not

own, it is self-replicating. replicate on its own. It is
synthesized from DNA when
required.
 Bibliography
The written content for the topic was taken from :

https://byjus.com/biology/dna-structure/

https://byjus.com/biology/structure-of-rna/

And the explanation of the topic was done from :

https://youtu.be/0lZRAShqft0

The images for this topic were taken from google.