Table of Contents
What is the polymer unit of a nucleic acid?
Nucleotides. DNA and RNA are polymers (in the case of DNA, often very long polymers), and are made up of monomers known as nucleotides. When these monomers combine, the resulting chain is called a polynucleotide (poly- = “many”).
What are the units of nucleic acids called?
The basic repeating unit of nucleic acids are known as nucleotides. A nucleotide consists of three distinct chemical groups, a 5-carbon sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), a nitrogen-rich base – (cytosine (C), guanine (G), adenine (A), thymine (T) in DNA or uracil (U) instead of T (in RNA), and phosphate.
Why are nucleic acids called polymers?
Nucleic acids are actually polymer themselves. The term polymer simply describes a macromolecule like a nucleic acid or protein. The distinguishing characteristic of polymers is that they are made up of smaller constituent parts, and these sequential parts are referred to as monomers.
What is the polymer of a nucleotide called?
The monomer units of DNA are nucleotides, and the polymer is known as a “polynucleotide.” Each nucleotide consists of a 5-carbon sugar (deoxyribose), a nitrogen containing base attached to the sugar, and a phosphate group.
What is the polymer and monomer of nucleic acids?
Groups of Monomers and Polymers Nucleic Acids – polymers are DNA and RNA; monomers are nucleotides, which are in turn consist of a nitrogenous base, pentose sugar, and phosphate group.
What are nucleic acids used for?
Nucleic acids are large biomolecules that play essential roles in all cells and viruses. A major function of nucleic acids involves the storage and expression of genomic information. Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, encodes the information cells need to make proteins.
What is nucleic acid polymer and monomer?
Nucleic Acids – polymers are DNA and RNA; monomers are nucleotides, which are in turn consist of a nitrogenous base, pentose sugar, and phosphate group. Carbohydrates – polymers are polysaccharides and disaccharides*; monomers are monosaccharides (simple sugars)
What is the polymer of amino acids?
polypeptides
Amino acids are linked together into linear chains called polypeptides. While the terms polypeptide and protein are sometimes used interchangeably, a polypeptide is technically a polymer of amino acids, whereas the term protein is a polypeptide or polypeptides that have a distinct shape and a unique function.
What is nucleic acid used for?
Definition. Nucleic acids are large biomolecules that play essential roles in all cells and viruses. A major function of nucleic acids involves the storage and expression of genomic information. Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, encodes the information cells need to make proteins.
What is the polymer for proteins?
Groups of Monomers and Polymers Proteins – polymers are known as polypeptides; monomers are amino acids. Nucleic Acids – polymers are DNA and RNA; monomers are nucleotides, which are in turn consist of a nitrogenous base, pentose sugar, and phosphate group.
What is a type of nucleic acid?
The two main classes of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the master blueprint for life and constitutes the genetic material in all free-living organisms and most viruses.