<h2>Summary of lessons so far</h2>
<p>Nucleic acids are molecules that consist of nucleotides that direct cellular activities such as <a data-lesson="cell-division" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="cell-biology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/cell-biology/cell-division">cell division</a> and protein synthesis. Each nucleotide consists of a pentose sugar, a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group. There are two types of nucleic acids: DNA and RNA.</p>
<p>DNA carries the genetic blueprint of the cell and parents pass it on to <a data-lesson="reproduction-methods" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="reproductive-system" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/reproductive-system/reproduction-methods">offspring</a> (in the form of chromosomes). It has a double-helical structure with the two strands running in opposite directions, connected by <a data-lesson="hydrogen-bonds-and-van-der-waals-interactions" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="chemical-foundation-of-life" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/chemical-foundation-of-life/hydrogen-bonds-and-van-der-waals-interactions">hydrogen</a> bonds, and complementary to each other.</p>
<p>RNA is single-stranded and is made of a pentose sugar (ribose), a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group. RNA is involved in protein synthesis and its regulation. Messenger RNA (mRNA) is copied from the DNA, is exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and contains information for the construction of proteins. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a part of the ribosomes at the site of protein synthesis, whereas transfer RNA (tRNA) carries the amino acid to the site of protein synthesis. microRNA regulates the use of mRNA for protein synthesis.</p>
<h2>Glossary of Words</h2>
<h3>Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)</h3>
<p>double-helical molecule that carries the hereditary information of the cell</p>
<h3>Messenger RNA (mRNA)</h3>
<p>RNA that carries information from DNA to ribosomes during protein synthesis</p>
<h3>Nucleic acid</h3>
<p>biological macromolecule that carries the genetic blueprint of a cell and carries instructions for the functioning of the cell</p>
<h3>Nucleotide</h3>
<p>monomer of nucleic acids; contains a pentose sugar, one or more phosphate groups, and a nitrogenous base</p>
<h3>Phosphodiester</h3>
<p>linkage covalent chemical bond that holds together the polynucleotide chains with a phosphate group linking two pentose sugars of neighboring nucleotides</p>
<h3>Polynucleotide</h3>
<p>long chain of nucleotides</p>
<h3>Purine</h3>
<p>type of nitrogenous base in DNA and RNA; adenine and guanine are purines</p>
<h3>Pyrimidine</h3>
<p>type of nitrogenous base in DNA and RNA; cytosine, thymine, and uracil are pyrimidines</p>
<h3>Ribonucleic acid (RNA)</h3>
<p>single-stranded, often internally base paired, molecule that is involved in protein synthesis</p>
<h3>Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)</h3>
<p>RNA that ensures the proper alignment of the mRNA and the ribosomes during protein synthesis and catalyzes the formation of the peptide linkage</p>
<h3>Transcription</h3>
<p>process through which messenger RNA forms on a template of DNA</p>
<h3>Transfer RNA (tRNA)</h3>
<p>RNA that carries activated <a data-lesson="amino-acids" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="biological-macromolecules" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/biological-macromolecules/amino-acids">amino acids</a> to the site of protein synthesis on the ribosome</p>
<h3>Translation</h3>
<p>process through which RNA directs the formation of protein</p>

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Summarizing Nucleic Acids

Biology studies life and living organisms. Biology can be divided into different sections that cover the morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, and so on of living organisms.

Biology

Discover the different types and functions of biological macromolecules including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, and explore their structures and synthesis through lessons on hydrolysis, disaccharides, protein structures, and DNA double-helix.


Summarizing Nucleic Acids

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