Topic 6 DNA I

Figure 6.1: Structures of DNA and RNA

A nucleic acid is a polymer of nucleotides. As seen in figure 6.1, there are two kinds of nucleic acids: RNA and DNA.

Note that the 3’ carbon of the pentose sugars in figure 6.1 are directly attached to the phosphate heads. The 5’ carbon of the pentose sugar has a CH₂ group attached to it - this serves to link the phosphate heads and the pentose sugars together.

Figure 6.2: Structure of a Nucleotide