Nucleic+Acids+Honors

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Nucleic Acids


control the basic life processes. They are also sources of genetic information in chromosomes, which are past from parent to offspring during reproduction. They're the chemical link between generations dating back to the beginning of life on earth.
 * NUCLEIC ACID**- Nucleic Acids are macromolecules that dictate amino-acid sequence of proteins which in turn


 * NUCLEOTIDE**-- A sub-unit of DNA or RNA composed of a 5-carbon sugar, nitrogen-containing base, and a phosphate group.


 * SUGAR**- Below is Sugar molecule 5- carbon sugar (a pentose) is one part of a nucleotide, which may be either ribose or deoxyribose.
 * PHOSPHATE**- The third part of a nucleotide is a phosphate group.
 * NITOGEN** **BASE**-Attached to the sugar is a nitrogen-containing base which is a single or double ringlike structure of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen.


 * DNA**--Nucleotides containing deoxyribose form deoxyribonucleic acids, or DNA. DNA has four different nucleotides and all contain deoxyribose, a phosphate group, and one of the four bases---adenine, thymine, guanine, or cytosine. DNA is always shown as a double stranded helix. The number and arrangement of the nucleotides vary in DNA, which contributes to the diversity of organisms living on Earth. DNA forms the genes and it stores information in a code consisting of units that are three nucleotides long.


 * RNA**- Nucleic Acids that contain ribose in their nucleotides are called ribonucleic acids, or RNA. RNA contains sugar ribose instead of deoxyribose. in RNA the nitrogen base uracil replaces thymine, while the other three bases stay the same. RNA is always single stranded but they can be arranged in very complex shapes. The number and arrangement of the nucleotides varies in RNA, which contributes to the diversity of organisms living on Earth.


 * A,T,G,C**- the four different bases are found in DNA nucleotides they are adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine


 * CARBON-** Carbon is a chemical element that has the symbol **C** and atomic number 6. An abundant nonmetallic, tetravalent element, carbon has several allotropic forms.


 * A,U,G,C-** These four different bases are found in RNA nucleotides Adenine, Uracil (taking place of thymine), Guanine, and cytosine


 * HYDROGEN**-Hydrogen is a chemical element represented by the symbol H. Its atomic number is 1.


 * RIBOSE**-The five-carbon sugar that serves as a component of RNA.


 * DEOXYRIBOSE**- A type of sugar which is a component of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid). DNA is a molecule formed of two strands, each of which includes deoxyribose.


 * OXYGEN**- Element number 8 and its is a gas. The symbol is O. A chemical element consisting of eight protons, eight neutrons and eight electrons. Two hydrogen atoms combine with one oxygen atom to form a molecule of water.


 * WATSON** **AND CRICK**- Refers to James Watson and Francis Crick. These scientists proposed a model for the structure of DNA by using x-rays.


 * DOUBLE HELIX-** The DNA double helix is composed of two long chains of nucleotides.http://www.wiley.com/legacy/college/boyer/0470003790/animations/animations.htm


 * ANTIPARALLEL**-two molecules are antiparallel if they run side-by-side in opposite directions. In DNA, the 5 carbon is located at the top of the leading strand, and the 3 carbon is located at the lower section of the lagging strand. The nucleotides are similar and parallel, but they go in opposite directions, hence the antiparallel designation. The antiparallel structure of DNA is important in DNA Replication because it unzips the leading strand one way and the lagging strand the other way.


 * SUGAR**- sugar refers to sucrose (also called "table sugar" or "saccharose")


 * PHOSPHATE** **BACKBONE**+**COMPLEMENTARY** **BASE** **PAIRING**- nucleotides that are joined to one another by covalent bonds that connect the sugar of one nucleotide to the phosphate group of the next. This repeating process of sugar-phosphate-sugar-phosphate is called a sugar-phosphate "backbone".

http://www.stolaf.edu/people/giannini/flashanimat/transport/atpase.swf
 * ATP**-adenosine triphosphate- Main energy source that cells use for most of their work.
 * HEREDITY**-Heredity (the adjective is //hereditary//) is the transfer of characteristics from parent to offspring through their genes.
 * REPLICATION**-an organism making a copy of itself or replicating oneself