Functions of Nucleic Acids: Overview, Questions, Preparation

Nucleic acids got their name because they were first discovered within the nucleus, and for the presence of phosphate groups in the human body. Nucleic Acid can be defined as the information-carrying molecules of cells in the human body.

The two main types of nucleic acid are deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). However, humans do have other types of artificial nucleic acid as well. They are the main source of information in the human body. The nucleotide refers to the building blocks of DNA and RNA. It has three structural components, which comprise the nitrogenous base, pentose sugar, and phosphate.

As nucleic acid has a huge polymer, which can be transformed to any shape and size, the structure of the nucleic acid can be explained in a number of ways. It can be represented as simply the structure of DNA or it can be created mainly with elements like hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, and many more. Nucleotides are the only monomers of nucleic acid. It is quite complex, shaped like a nitrogenous base. There are four types of nucleotides, namely adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. Nucleic acids were discovered in 1869 by Swiss biochemist  Friedrich Miescher. It is one of the easiest and scoring topics in Biology in CBSE examinations, with 5 and 2 marks questions generally asked on this topic. Nucleic acid is generally large in size and can be considered the largest molecule ever known to humans. Nucleic acid molecules range in size from 21 nucleotides upwards.

The basic function of nucleic acid is mentioned below:

1. Stores Information

These acids are responsible for both carrying and transmitting information in the human body. Both copying and reading the information stored in DNA relies on base pairing between two nucleic acids.

2. Protects Information

Apart from storing these molecules, it also protects the transmitted information. It protects the information from being lost by storing in a safer place.

3. Determination of inherited characteristics

These acids are responsible for DNA in a human being and eventually determines their inherited characteristics from one generation to another.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is defined as a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. The DNA segments carrying this genetic information are called genes, which are responsible for transmission of inherited characteristics.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

The main function of RNA is to convert genetic information from genes into the amino acid sequences of proteins. The three types of RNA are RNA (tRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). It is responsible for carrying genetic sequence information between DNA and ribosomes, directing protein synthesis. The ribosomes are a major component of the ribosome and catalyzes peptide bond formation. During the process of division of cells these chromosomes are replicated in the process of DNA duplication or replication, providing each cell its own complete set of chromosomes. Eukaryotic organisms (animals, plants, fungi, and protists) store most of their DNA inside the cell nucleus and some of their DNA in organelles, such as mitochondria or chloroplasts.

Artificial acids 

They have been designed and synthesised by chemists artificially for better understanding of living beings.