Question
What are nucleic acids? Mention their two important functions.
✓
Answer
Nucleic acids are biomolecules found in the nuclei of all living cells, as one of the constituents of chromosomes. There are mainly two types of nucleic acids - deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Nucleic acids are also known as polynucleotides as they are longchain polymers of nucleotides.
Two main functions of nucleic acids are:
Two main functions of nucleic acids are:
- DNA is responsible for the transmission of inherent characters from one generation to the next. This process of transmission is called heredity.
- Nucleic acids (both DNA and RNA) are responsible for protein synthesis in a cell. Even though the proteins are actually synthesised by the various RNA molecules in a cell, the message for the synthesis of a particular protein is present in DNA.
Need a full question paper?
Generate a complete, print-ready paper with questions like this in minutes — across 16+ boards, with answer keys.
Explore more
Similar questions
Carry out the following conversions:
Propanone to 2-Methylpropan-2-ol.
Propanone to 2-Methylpropan-2-ol.
Write Raoults law of relative lowering of vapour pressure?
Write the equation of the reaction of hydrogen iodide with :
1-propoxypropane
1-propoxypropane
What may be the stable oxidation state of the transition element with the following d electron configurations in the ground state of their atoms : $3 d^3, 3 d^5, 3 d^8$ and $3 d^4 ?$
→An organic compound $X \left( C _4 H _{10} O \right)$ reacts with HCl giving a compound $Y \left( C _4 H _9 Cl \right)$ which on reduction gives butane. Oxidation of compound $X$ gives carbonyl compound $Z$ and then the carboxylic acid of the same number of carbons formed. Give the formula of $X, Y, Z$ and $P$ and also write the reaction sequence.
→What will be the correct order for the wavelength of absorption in the visible region for the following :
$\left[ Ni \left( NO _2\right)_6\right]^{4-},\left[ Ni \left( NH _3\right)_6\right]^{2+},\left[ Ni \left( H _2 O \right)_6\right]^{2+} ?$
→→$\left[ Ni \left( NO _2\right)_6\right]^{4-},\left[ Ni \left( NH _3\right)_6\right]^{2+},\left[ Ni \left( H _2 O \right)_6\right]^{2+} ?$
$^{238}_{92}\text{U}$ Change to $^{206}_{92}\text{Pb}$ by successive radioactive decay. A sample of urenium ore was anlaysed and found to contain 1.0 g of $^{238}\text{U}$ and 0.1 g of $^{206}\text{Pb}$ had accumulated due to decay of $^{238}\text{U}$, find out the age of ore. (Half- life of $^{238}\text{U}$$= 4.5\times10^9$ years).
→Describe what you understand by primary structure and secondary structure of proteins.
$Cu ^{+}$ion is not stable in aqueous solution. Why?
→