How are nucleic acids and proteins similar How are they different?

As molecules, proteins and nucleic acids are not similar in structure. They look nothing alike, either as large molecules or in terms of their building blocks. While they’re both made up of mostly carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, the elements are assembled in vastly different ways.

What is the relationship between a nucleic acid and a protein?

The sequence of the codons in nucleic acids determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein. Each codon is composed of three nucleotides (nitrogen bases), and codes for a particular amino acid (or stop codon). The sequence of amino acids determines the structure of a protein, which determines its function.

What is the difference in function between proteins and nucleic acids?

Nucleic acid is important in storing, transmitting, and making useful the information necessary for the processes of life. Protein is composed of amino acids that are important for life functions. Lipids are composed of fats, oils, phospholipids, steroids, and waxes.

What is the primary difference between the structure of a nucleic acid and the structure of a protein?

Like proteins, nucleic acids have a primary structure that is defined as the sequence of their nucleotides. Unlike proteins, which have 20 different kinds of amino acids, there are only 4 different kinds of nucleotides in nucleic acids.

How are nucleic acids and proteins similar answers?

Nucleic acids contain the same elements as proteins: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen; plus phosphorous (C, H, O, N, and P). Nucleic acids are very large macromolecules composed of repetitive units of the same building blocks, nucleotides, similar to a pearl necklace made of many pearls.

What are nucleic acids monomer?

Nucleic acids are giant biomolecules made of monomers called nucleotides. Nucleotides have three components: pentose sugar (5-carbon sugar), phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

What is the difference between a nucleic acid and a nucleotide?

Nucleotides are the monomers that make up a nucleic acid, such as DNA or RNA. Nucleic acids are made of long strands of nucleotides and are an essential part of every living thing.

How do carbohydrates nucleic acids and proteins work together?

Carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids are built from small molecular units that are connected to each other by strong covalent bonds. The small molecular units are called monomers (mono means one, or single), and they are linked together into long chains called polymers (poly means many, or multiple).

What are the monomers of nucleic acids?

How do nucleic acids and proteins work together to provide instructions for the structures and functions of an organism?

Nucleic acids, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), carry genetic information which is read in cells to make the RNA and proteins by which living things function. The well-known structure of the DNA double helix allows this information to be copied and passed on to the next generation.

What makes nucleic acid structure unique?

Nucleic acid types differ in the structure of the sugar in their nucleotides–DNA contains 2′-deoxyribose while RNA contains ribose (where the only difference is the presence of a hydroxyl group).

What monomers would you have to bond together to make a protein?

For example, proteins are composed of monomers called amino acids. They are linked together to form a polypeptide chain, which folds into a three dimensional (3D) structure to constitute a functional protein (Figure 1).