How do nucleotides differ

The diagram below shows the four different nitrogenous bases found in DNA. The diagram below shows the basic structure of a RNA nucleotide. The diagram below shows the four different nitrogenous bases found in RNA.

May 14, Both thymine and uracil pair with adenine. Related questions How do I determine the molecular shape of a molecule?

What is the lewis structure for co2? What is the lewis structure for hcn? The repeating pattern of phosphate, sugar, then phosphate again is commonly referred to as the backbone of the molecule.

The sugar in DNA is deoxyribose. This missing hydroxyl group plays a role in the three-dimensional structure and chemical stability of DNA polymers. There are two groups of bases: Pyrimidines : Cytosine and Thymine each have a single six-member ring. Purines : Guanine and Adenine each have a double ring made up of a five-atom ring attached by one side to a six-atom ring. DNA polymers can be tens of millions of nucleotides long.

At these lengths, the four-letter nucleotide alphabet can encode nearly unlimited information. Nucleosides are similar to nucleotides, except they do not contain a phosphate group. Without this phosphate group, they are unable to form chains. Follow SciencePrimer. Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA and ribonucleic acid RNA are perhaps the most important molecules in cell biology, responsible for the storage and reading of genetic information that underpins all life. They are both linear polymers, consisting of sugars, phosphates and bases, but there are some key differences which separate the two 1.

These distinctions enable the two molecules to work together and fulfil their essential roles. Before we delve into the differences, we take a look at these two nucleic acids side-by-side. I Understand. Published: December 18, Last Updated: November 11, DNA encodes all genetic information, and is the blueprint from which all biological life is created. In the long-term, DNA is a storage device, a biological flash drive that allows the blueprint of life to be passed between generations 2.

RNA functions as the reader that decodes this flash drive. This reading process is multi-step and there are specialized RNAs for each of these steps. Below, we look in more detail at the three most important types of RNA.

The nitrogen bases in DNA are the basic units of genetic code, and their correct ordering and pairing is essential to biological function. The four bases that make up this code are adenine A , thymine T , guanine G and cytosine C.