Nucleic acids
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) carries the code for everyday functions of
the cells. Synthesis of proteins is controlled by RNA. Inheritance
is determined by deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and it must be
replicated so that one cell can give rise to two cells. DNA.BAS is
a short tutorial that shows the formulae of the monomers of nucleic
acids and states some rules of structure.
The important sugars in nucleic acids are the pentoses D-ribose and D-deoxyribose:
The purine bases are:
The pyrimidine bases are:
Structure rules for nucleic acids