4 Nucleic Acids and the

Origin of Life
4.1 What Are the Chemical Structures and Functions of
Nucleic Acids?
Nucleic acids are macromolecules, polymers
specialized for the storage and transmission of
genetic information.

The two types of nucleic acids are:

DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid (the structure of

DNA was first described by James Watson,
Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins).

RNA = ribonucleic acid

The Deoxyribonucleic Acid or DNA
4.1 What Are the Chemical Structures and Functions of
Nucleic Acids?
The monomeric units of nucleic acids are called
nucleotides.

Nucleotides consist of :

1. a pentose sugar (ribose or deoxyribose)

2. a phosphate group

3. a nitrogen-containing base (purines and

pyrimidines).
 A nucleotide contains a pentose
Question 1.
sugar, a phosphate group, and
A. a lipid.
B. an acid.
C. a nitrogen-containing base.
D. an amino acid.
E. a glycerol
Q. 2. The difference between
nucleosides and nucleotides is

A. only nucleotides have nitrogenous bases.

a phosphate group is found in nucleotides but not in

B.
nucleosides.

nucleotides have the pentose sugar ribose while nucleosides

C.
have the pentose sugar deoxyribose.

in nucleosides the monomers are joined by phosphodiester

D. bonds; in nucleotides the monomers are joined by hydrogen
bonds.

nucleosides are the monomers of DNA; nucleotides are the

E.
monomers of RNA.
4.1 What Are the Chemical Structures and Functions of
Nucleic Acids?

RNA has ribose sugar

DNA has deoxyribose sugar
Figure 4.1 Nucleotides Have Three Components

• Pyrimidines
are one-ringed
structures
• Cytosine and
thymine are
components of
DNA. Uracil is a
base in RNA
which replaces
thymine.

•Purines have
two rings.
• Adenine and
Guanine.
Q. 3 The bases of nucleic
acids are purines or
pyrimidines. Purines and
pyrimidines are distinguished
by the fact that
purines include the bases of cytosine and thymine;
A.
pyrimidines include the bases of adenine and guanine.
pyrimidines are found in RNA; purines are found in
B.
DNA.
purines consist of hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, and
C. nitrogen, whereas pyrimidines have phosphorus,
hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen.
purines only have single bonds in their structure,
D. whereas pyrimidines have both single and double
bonds in their structure.
purines are double-ring structures, whereas
E.
pyrimidines are single-ring structures
4.1 What Are the Chemical Structures and Functions of
Nucleic Acids?

The “backbone” of DNA and RNA is a

chain of sugars and phosphate groups,
bonded by phosphodiester linkages.

The phosphate groups link carbon 3′ in

one sugar to carbon 5′ in another sugar.

The two strands of DNA run in opposite

directions (antiparallel).
Figure 4.2 Distinguishing Characteristics of DNA and RNA Polymers (Part 1)
Figure 4.2 Distinguishing Characteristics of DNA and RNA Polymers (Part 2)
4.1 What Are the Chemical Structures and Functions of
Nucleic Acids?

DNA bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C),

guanine (G), and thymine (T)

Complementary base pairing:

A–T

C–G

Purines pair with pyrimidines by

hydrogen bonding.
 According to the principle of
Q. 5. complementary base pairing, purines
always pair with
A. deoxyribose sugars.
B. uracil.
C. pyrimidines.
D. adenine.
E. guanine.

What is the nucleotide sequence of the

Q. 6. complementary strand of the DNA molecule: A A
T G C G A?
A. TTACGCT
B. AATGCGA
C. GGCATAG
D. CCGTTAT
E. AGCGTAA
DNA Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy8dk5iS1f0
4.1 What Are the Chemical Structures and Functions of
Nucleic Acids?
Instead of thymine, RNA uses the base
uracil (U).

RNA is single-stranded, but

complementary base pairing occurs in
the structure of some types of RNA.
All of the following bases are found in DNA
Q. 7.
except
A. thymine.
B. adenine.
C. uracil.
D. guanine.
E. cytosine
Figure 4.3 Hydrogen Bonding in RNA
4.1 What Are the Chemical Structures and Functions of
Nucleic Acids?

The two strands of a DNA molecule form

a double helix.

All DNA molecules have the same

structure; diversity lies in the sequence
of base pairs.

DNA is an informational molecule:

information is encoded in the sequences
of bases.
The central dogma of molecular biology

The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology is:

DNA is transcribed to RNA which is translated
to protein. Protein is never back-translated to
RNA or DNA; and except for retroviruses, DNA
is never created from RNA. Furthermore, DNA
is never directly translated to protein.

Information flows from DNA to RNA to protein

4.1 What Are the Chemical Structures and Functions of
Nucleic Acids?

The two functions of DNA comprise the

central dogma of molecular biology:

• DNA can reproduce itself (replication).

• DNA can copy its information into RNA

(transcription). RNA can specify a
sequence of amino acids in a
polypeptide (translation).
Figure 4.5 DNA Stores Information

The central dogma

4.1 What Are the Chemical Structures and Functions of
Nucleic Acids?

DNA replication and transcription depend

on base pairing.

DNA replication involves the entire

molecule (i.e. replication of the
genome), but only relatively small
sections of the DNA are transcribed into
RNA (transcription of genes).
4.1 What Are the Chemical Structures and Functions of
Nucleic Acids?
The complete set of DNA
in a living organism is
Sequences of
called its genome.
DNA encoding
specific
Not all the information is proteins known
needed at all times; as genes
sequences of DNA that
encode specific proteins
are called genes.
Figure 4.6 DNA Replication and Transcription
 The central dogma of molecular biology
Q. 8.
states that
A. the genetic code is ambiguous.
the information flow between DNA, RNA,
B.
and a protein is reversible.
the information flow in a cell is from DNA to
C.
RNA to protein.
the information flow in a cell is from protein
D.
to RNA to DNA.
the information flow in a cell is from DNA to
E.
a protein to RNA.
4.1 What Are the Chemical Structures and Functions of
Nucleic Acids?

DNA carries hereditary information

between generations.

Determining the sequence of bases helps

reveal evolutionary relationships.

The closest living relative of humans is

the chimpanzee.
4.2 How and Where Did the Small Molecules of Life Originate?
The Origins of Life

Many cultures believed in the spontaneous

generation of life: i.e life arose from non-living
matter.

The first experiment to disprove spontaneous

generation was done in 1668.

Experiments by Louis Pasteur showed that

microorganisms can arise only from other
microorganisms.
Figure 4.7 Disproving the Spontaneous Generation of Life (Part 1)
Figure 4.7 Disproving the Spontaneous Generation of Life (Part 2)
 In 1668, Francesco Redi did some experiments to disprove
spontaneous generation. He began by putting pieces of meat into
identical jars. Some jars were left open to the air, and some were
sealed. He then did the same experiment with one variation: instead of
sealing the jars completely, he covered them with gauze (which kept out
flies while allowing the meat to be exposed to the air). In both
experiments, he checked if fly maggots appeared in the meat or not.
What hypothesis was being tested?

Spontaneous generation is more likely to occur during the hot days of

A.
summer.
B. Maggots do not arise spontaneously but from eggs laid by adult flies.
C. The type of meat affects whether spontaneous generation occurs.
D. Spontaneous generation can occur only if air is present.
E. Flies will develop from rotting meat if the meat is exposed to air.
4.2 How and Where Did the Small Molecules of Life Originate?

But their experiments did not prove that

spontaneous generation never
occurred.

Eons ago,conditions on Earth and in the

atmosphere were vastly different.

About 4 billion years ago, chemical

conditions, including the presence of
water, became just right for life.
4.2 How and Where Did the Small Molecules of Life Originate?

Two of the theories on the origin of life:

• Life came from outside of Earth.

• Life arose on Earth through chemical

evolution.
4.2 How and Where Did the Small Molecules of Life Originate?

In 1969, fragments of a meteorite were

found to contain molecules unique to
life, including purines, pyrimidines,
sugars, and ten amino acids.

Evidence from other meteorites suggest

that living organisms could possibly
have reached Earth within a meteorite.
Figure 4.8 The Murchison Meteorite
4.2 How and Where Did the Small Molecules of Life Originate?

Chemical evolution: conditions on

primitive Earth led to formation of simple
molecules (prebiotic synthesis); these
molecules led to formation of life forms.

Scientists have experimented with

reconstructing those primitive
conditions.
4.2 How and Where Did the Small Molecules of Life Originate?

Miller and Urey (1950s) set up an

experiment with gases thought to have
been present in Earth’s early
atmosphere.

An electric spark simulated lightning as a

source of energy to drive chemical
reactions.

After several days, amino acids, purines,

and pyrimidines were formed.
Figure 4.9 Miller & Urey Synthesized Prebiotic Molecules in an Experimental Atmosphere (Part 1)
Figure 4.9 Miller & Urey Synthesized Prebiotic Molecules in an Experimental Atmosphere (Part 2)
Miller’s experiment gave rise to many small molecules

•All five bases present in the DNA and RNA were formed
i.e. A, T, G, C and U

•17 of the 20 amino acids were also produced

•3 to 6 carbon sugars were produced.

•However, a 5 carbon ribose or deoxyribose were not produced.

• The original experiment was redesigned: using other gases in

addition to the ones used.

• This time around Ribose was formed