By Nucleic acid is the most important molecule out of the main bio molecules in living matter in genetical aspect. It is a linear polymer made up of large number of nucleotides. It contains Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P).
Each nucleotide is made up of 3 components. They are ;
- Nitrogenous base
- Pentose sugar group
- Phosphate group
There are two types of Nucleic acids
- DNA – Deoxy ribo Nucleci Acid
- RNA – Ribo Nucleic Acid
DNA
The structural unit of DNA is Deoxy ribo Nucleotide. DNA transfers genetic characteristics from generation to generation
RNA
Except DNA, the other nucleic acid present in organisms is RNA.
The structural unit of RNA is Ribonucleotide.
Protein synthesis is the function of RNA.
Significance of Nucleic acidI
- Important in storage of genetic information of organisms.
- Important in transferring genetic information from generation to generation.
- Important in protein synthesis process.
- Important in controlling all cellular activities in a cell. The information to control cellular activities is present in DNA.
- RNA is important in storing genetic information of some viruses.
- The variations occur in DNA due to mutations are important in evolution.
The above bio molecules contain mainly Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H),Oxygen (O) and Nitrogen (N). We will conduct below mentioned activities to confirm the presence of those elements.
Blue coloured Anhydrous Cobalt Chloride turn to pink and white coloured Anhydrous Copper Sulphate turn to blue. Then it is confirmed that water is formed on the glass sheet. Therefore the food that is used for the experiment contains water as a constituent.
Lines drawn due to coal is observed.
Can confirm the food that is used for the experiment contains Carbon (C).
Purple colour appears in the solution and this confirms the presence of Protein in food. As Nitrogen is a constituent of Proteins, it is confirmed that the above tissues contain Nitrogen.
