Nucleiinihapot

Nucleiinihapot, commonly known as nucleic acids, are essential macromolecules found in all living organisms. They are responsible for storing and transmitting genetic information. The two primary types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).

DNA is a double-stranded helix that carries the genetic blueprint of an organism. It is composed of repeating units called nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), or thymine (T). The sequence of these bases encodes genetic instructions.

RNA is typically single-stranded and plays various roles in gene expression. Like DNA, it is made up of nucleotides, but it contains a ribose sugar instead of deoxyribose and uracil (U) replaces thymine. Messenger RNA (mRNA) carries genetic information from DNA to ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA) brings amino acids to the ribosomes during protein synthesis, and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a structural component of ribosomes.

The structure of nucleic acids, particularly the base pairing rules (A with T in DNA, A with U in RNA, and G with C in both), is fundamental to their function in replication, transcription, and translation, enabling life to perpetuate and evolve.