Nucleic acids are biopolymers that are essential for all life. They are composed of nucleotides containing phosphate groups, pentose sugars, and nitrogenous bases. There are two main types of nucleic acids: DNA and RNA. DNA is a double-stranded molecule that carries genetic information and is passed from parents to offspring. It has a double helix structure. RNA is single-stranded and is involved in protein synthesis. There are different types of each with different functions, such as mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA. Nucleic acids store and transmit genetic information essential for life.

1. Nucleic
Acid

2. Nucleic acids
are biopolymers, macromolecules
crucial for all life forms. It is a
naturally occurring chemical
compound mainly composed of
a phosphate group,
a pentose sugar and a nitrogen
base(comprising
of purines and pyrimidines ).
Definition

3. Functions
• Primary information carrying
molecules in a cell.
• They create, encode and
store information in every cell for all
living beings.
• Responsible for the transmission of
inherent characters from parents to
offspring.

4. Types of Nucleic Acid
DNA RNA
Types of DNA
• A-DNA
• B-DNA
• Z-DNA
Types of RNA
• rRNA
• TRNA
• mRNA

5. DNA
DNA is a group of
molecules that is
responsible for carrying
and transmitting the
hereditary materials or
the genetic instructions
from parents to off
springs. DNA also plays
an important role in the
production of proteins.

6. Do You Know??
• DNA was first
recognized by the
Swiss biologist
Johannes Friedrich
Miescher(1869).
• There are around 3
million DNA bases in
our genome.

7. DNA Physical Structure
• Two strands resembling a twisted ladder known
as double helix.
• The two chain are anti parallel polarity.
• DNA molecule is composed of units
called nucleotide.
• Two types of nitrogen bases- Purine(Adenine,
Guanine) and Pyrimidine(Thymine, Cytosine)
• Adenine and thymine are bonded by two
hydrogen bonds whereas guanine and
cytosine are bonded by three
hydrogen bonds.
• Each turn of the helix consists of ten base pairs
• Pitch of the helix-3.4nm, diameter of helix-
2.0nm

8. DNA Chemical Structure
This P
• Each strand has a backbone made
of alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and
phosphate groups.
• The order of the nitrogenous
bases determines the genetic code.
• The basic building blocks of DNA are
nucleotides (composed of sugar
group, phosphate group and a nitrogen
base).
• The phosphodiester bond links the 3'
carbon atom of one sugar molecule and
the 5' carbon atom of another.
• A glycosidic bond exists in the DNA
molecule between sugar and nitrogen
base

9. Fun Facts
• We all are 99.9% alike.
• Genes make up only about 3% of your
DNA.
• Throughout evolution, humans have
lost over 500 DNA codes.

10. Types of DNA
A-DNA B-DNA Z-DNA
1. It is a right handed,
double helix similar to the
B DNA. Dehydrated DNA
takes an A form that
protects the DNA during
extreme conditions such as
desiccation. Protein
binding also removes the
solvent from DNA, and
the DNA takes an A form.
2. Base pairs per turn- 11
3. Vertical rise per bp- 2.56Å
1. This is the most
common DNA
conformation and is a
right handed helix.
The majority of DNA
has a B type
conformation under
physiological
conditions.
2. Base pairs per turn- 10
3. Vertical rise per bp-
3.4Å
1. It is a left handed DNA
where the double helix
winds to the left in a zig-
zag pattern. It is found
ahead of the start site of
a gene and hence, is
believed to play some role
in gene regulation.
2. Base pairs per turn- 12
3. Vertical rise per bp- 19Å

11. Functions of DNA
• 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 cell division.
• Mutation- The change which occur the DNA sequences.
• Transcription-Transcription is the process of copying a segment
of DNA into RNA.
• Cellular Metabolism-Process by which cellular DNA is
maintained, includes both DNA synthesis and degradation
reactions involved in DNA replication and repair.
• Gene Therapy- Allows correction of a gene defect diagnosed in a
embryo

12. Fun Fact!!!
We share 40-50%
of identical DNA
with cabbage.
9% of our DNA is
the same as other
Humans.
Forensics DNA
testing looks at 13
specific segments
of DNA.

13. RNA
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) is present in
all living cells that has structural
similarities to DNA. RNA is most
often single stranded. RNA molecule
has a backbone made of alternating
phosphate groups and a sugar ribose.
Function:
• RNA create proteins via translation.
RNA carries genetic information
that is translated by ribosomes into
various proteins necessary for
cellular processes.

14. Structure of RNA
• RNA has the nitrogen bases called
the adenine, guanine, cytosine
and 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 hair pin
structure, and nucleotides
are formed in this ribonucleic
material.

15. Do You Know???
• mRNA has shortest life among all the
other types of RNA but also is the
largest one.
• Depending on the functions, RNA can
come in different forms and shape.

16. Types of RNA
tRNA mRNA rRNA
The transfer RNA is held
responsible for choosing
the correct protein/amino
acid required by the body
in turn helping the
ribosomes. It is located at
the end point of each
amino acid. This is also
called aa soluble RNA
and it forms a link
between mRNA and
amino acid
This type of RNA
functions by transferring
the genetic materials into
the ribosomes and pass
the instructions about
the type of proteins,
required by the body
cells. Therefore the
mRNA plays a vital role
in the process of
transcription or during
the protein synthesis
process
The rRNA is the component
of the ribosome and are
located within 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.

17. Fun Fact!!!
1.RNA is also referred to as
chemical cousin of DNA.
2.About 5% of the total
weight of a human cell
consist of RNA.

18. Conclusion
Nucleic acids are molecules made up of nucleotides that direct cellular
activities such as cell division and protein synthesis. They are made up of
nitrogen-containing bases, phosphate groups, and pentose sugar
(deoxyribose) . Each type of nucleic acid has a distinctive structure and
plays a different role in our cells. There are two types of nucleic acids:
DNA and RNA. DNA carries the genetic blueprint of the cell and is
passed on from parents to offspring(it is a double-helical structure with
the two strands running in opposite directions, connected by hydrogen
bonds, and complementary to each other).RNA is single-stranded and is
made of a pentose sugar (ribose), a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate
group. RNA is involved in protein synthesis and its regulation.

19. Bibliography
• Quora.com
• Wikipedia.com
• Byju's. Com
• NCERT Book
• Rwu.pressbooks.pub
• genome.gov
• https://courses.lumenlear
ning.com/

20. Acknowledgments
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Head of the Botany
Department Dr. Suraj SK Sir, as well as our school principal Dr.Mononjit
Ray who gave me such an amazing opportunity to do this wonderful project.
Also, I wish to thank my parents & friends who helped me a
lot in collecting data, pictures and continuous help and support.
Finally, I would wish to thank everyone involved in this
project time.
By, Ayendrela Sarkar
Barnali Sen
Subham Shah