key concept4.1Nucleic Acid Structures Reflect Their Functions

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Nucleic acids contain life’s genetic code. From medicine to evolution, from agriculture to forensics, the properties of nucleic acids affect our lives every day. It is with nucleic acids that the concept of “information” entered the biological vocabulary. Nucleic acids are uniquely capable of coding for and transmitting biological information.

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  • The structures of DNA and RNA enable their functions in storing and transferring genetic information.

  • Base pairing between nucleotides in DNA and RNA provides the structure needed for transfer of genetic information.

  • Base sequences of nucleotides in DNA provide the chemical diversity needed for storage of genetic information.

  • Nucleotides other than those found in DNA and RNA have diverse functions within the cell.