Nucleic Acid: The Molecules of Life
by Yuvi K - December 17, 2023
The Molecules of Life: Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are a major class of biological macromolecules essential for the storage and transfer of genetic information. They are the molecules of life that direct all cellular processes. Understanding the structure and function of nucleic acids is of vital importance to the study of molecular biology and medicine.
What are Nucleic Acids?
Nucleic acids are complex polymers of nucleotides that are joined together by phosphodiester bonds. Nucleic acids include both deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material of all higher organisms, while RNA functions in protein synthesis.
Nucleotides are composed of three parts: a five-carbon sugar (ribose in RNA or deoxyribose in DNA); a nitrogen-containing base; and a phosphate group. In DNA, the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C) pair with each other in a “rungs of a ladder” structure. In RNA, instead of thymine, uracil (U) is the pairing partner with A, G, and C.
Role of Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are involved in the storage, expression, and transfer of genetic information from one generation to the next. DNA stores genetic information in the form of sequences of nucleotides. This information is expressed through messenger RNA (mRNA), which is used to create proteins.
DNA is a double helix, meaning its two complementary strands are wound around each other like a twisted ladder. This twisting allows DNA to package its genetic information in a compact form and “unzip” it when needed to carry out its vital functions.
In addition to the role in protein synthesis, RNA also takes part in the regulation of gene expression, playing an important role in the control of cellular differentiation and development.
Relevance to Modern Biomedicine
The ability to manipulate the genetic makeup of an organism has become possible only with the advent of biotechnology. The ability to genetically alter an organism or organism’s genetic material is called “gene editing.” In this process, genetic material is modified with the aim of curing or preventing genetic disorders or maladies.
Gene editing has become increasingly important in the fields of regenerative medicine, cancer research, and gene therapy. Despite the many potential applications of gene editing, its use has sparked ethical controversy in society.
Conclusion
Nucleic acids play an indispensable role in the functioning of all life forms. DNA stores and expresses genetic information, while RNA carries out a wide array of regulatory functions. The knowledge that scientists have gained of these vital molecules of life set the foundation for advances in modern biomedicine, some of them controversial. As the years go by, a better understanding of nucleic acids could lead to novel and improved applications in medicine.
