Nucleic Acids

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Nucleic Acid Noun

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[noo-klee-ik as-id]

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Nucleic Acid

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A nitrogen-containing biological polymer involved in the storage and transmission of an organism's genetic information.

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Example: This image shows that a nucleotide, the building block of nucleic acids, is made of three parts: a phosphate, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

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Nucleotide Noun

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[noo-klee-oh-tahyd]

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Nucleotide

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The monomer of nucleic acids, consisting of a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

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Example: This diagram shows a nucleotide is made of three parts: a phosphate group, a pentose sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

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Polymer Noun

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[pol-uh-mer]

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Polymer

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A large molecule, such as a nucleic acid, that is composed of many repeating smaller subunits called monomers.

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Example: This image shows a polymer as a long chain made of smaller, identical repeating units, called monomers, linked together.

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Monomer Noun

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[mon-uh-mer]

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Monomer

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A small, repeating molecular subunit that serves as the fundamental building block of a larger polymer molecule.

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Example: This image displays simplified shapes representing different types of monomers, such as glucose and amino acids, which are the basic building blocks for larger molecules.

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Phosphate Group Noun

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[fos-feyt groop]

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Phosphate Group

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An inorganic chemical group that is a key component of a nucleotide, forming the sugar-phosphate backbone of nucleic acids.

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Example: This diagram shows a phosphate group, highlighted in yellow, as one of the three essential parts of a nucleotide, the building block of nucleic acids.

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Nitrogenous Base Noun

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[nahy-troj-uh-nuhs beys]

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Nitrogenous Base

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A nitrogen-containing molecule that is part of a nucleotide and forms the 'letters' of the genetic code.

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Example: This image shows the molecular structure of Adenine, which is one of the main nitrogenous bases that are the building blocks of DNA and RNA.

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DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) Noun

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[dee-ok-see-rahy-boh-noo-klee-ik as-id]

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DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)

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A nucleic acid that contains the master plans for building all the proteins in an organism's body.

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Example: This diagram shows the DNA double helix structure, labeling the sugar-phosphate backbone and the four nitrogenous bases (A, T, C, G) that form pairs.

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Double Helix Noun

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[duhb-l hee-liks]

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Double Helix

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The spiral structure formed by two long chains of nucleotides wound together, which is characteristic of a DNA molecule.

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Example: This diagram shows the twisted ladder shape of a DNA double helix, with a close-up view of the base pairs (A-T, C-G) forming the rungs.

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Deoxyribose Noun

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[dee-ok-see-rahy-bohs]

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Deoxyribose

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The five-carbon sugar molecule that is a key component of the nucleotides that make up DNA.

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Example: This diagram shows the chemical structure of a sugar molecule, highlighting the specific location where an oxygen atom is removed to form deoxyribose.

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Adenine (A) Noun

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[ad-n-een]

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Adenine (A)

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A nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA that pairs with Thymine in DNA and Uracil in RNA.

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Example: This image shows the ball-and-stick molecular structure of adenine, a key building block (nucleobase) found in both DNA and RNA.