Biological Functions of Nucleic Acids

The biological functions of nucleic acids play a major role in determining the characteristics of humans. One of the main biological functions of nucleic acids is storing the genetic code from the forefathers and transmitting them to the offspring. This function is commonly known as heredity in day-to-day language. In this article, we will study nucleic acids, types of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA, their basic structure, and the biological functions of nucleic acids.

Before understanding the biological function of nucleic acids, we need to understand the term “Nucleic Acid” first. Let us start the article by defining nucleic acids.

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic Acids term can be defined as specific large molecules in the cell. They are naturally occurring chemical compounds. They serve as the primary information-carrying molecules. Nucleic acid was first found in 1869 by Friedrich Miescher, and by 1953 the double helix structure was proposed by Watson and Crick. In Nucleic Acid, the “Nucleic” term was given because they were isolated and found in the nucleus, and the “Acid” term was given due to its acidic properties. Nucleic acids are present in all living beings of the Earth. 

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) are the most famous nucleic acids. The primary act of nucleic acid is to store information. The cells encode the information into nucleic acids. 

DNA and RNA

The DNA molecule is composed of units called nucleotides, which comprise three distinct components, such as phosphate groups, nitrogen bases, and sugar. The phosphate groups and sugar link the nucleotides together to form each strand of DNA. The four kinds of nitrogen bases are Guanine (G), Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), and Thymine (T). They pair together in the following way: Cytosine (C) with Guanine (G) and Adenine (A) with Thymine (T), and they are essential for the DNA’s double helix structure that resembles a twisted ladder. There are majorly three types of DNA. these include – 

• A-DNA -The A-DNA is a right-handed double helix. 

• B-DNA – The B-DNA is a right-handed helix and is the most common DNA conformation. 

• Z-DNA – Unlike others, the Z-DNA is left-handed DNA. 

RNA has the same nitrogen bases called the Guanine, adenine, Cytosine as that of the DNA besides for the uracil that replaced the Thymine. Adenine and uracil are regarded as the crucial and primary building blocks of RNA, and both of them shape base-pair with the support of two hydrogen bonds. The structure of RNA resembles a hairpin and, like the nucleotides, which are moulded in this ribonucleic material(RNA) in DNA. RNA are classified into three types: 

1. mRNA: messenger RNA

2. tRNA: transfer RNA

3. rRNA: ribosome RNA

The sugary moiety is β-D-2-deoxyribose in DNA whereas, the sugary moiety is β-D-ribose in RNA. 

Biological Functions of Nucleic Acids

As stated, nucleic acid is a specific large molecule that is made up of a polymer or strings that are made up of nucleotides. Every living thing on Earth uses nucleic acids as a source or location for storing information of source code or hereditary information. Nucleic acids are like hard disk drives, which store the all essential source code or blueprint for making and repairing new cells.

The major function of nucleic acids is to store the genetic code of living organisms. DNA reserves genetic information and is responsible for maintaining the identity of species over the centuries. Replication or Self-duplication of DNA is an enzyme-catalysed process, where the two strands of DNA unwind, and each strand serves as a pattern for the new strand synthesis. This new strand is identical to the original DNA. This process helps in transferring the characteristics from one cell to another, which is also known as heredity.

Another major function of nucleic acids is protein synthesis, where RNA functions as an adapter molecule. RNA facilitates the translation of protein from DNA. In the process of protein synthesis, mRNA copies DNA and carries the information to rRNA, where rRNA decodes the information. tRNA takes amino acids to rRNA, where the protein is formed.

DNA fingerprinting is another function of nucleic acids where every individual has different fingerprints, and this function helps in identifying one person from another. Gene Therapy is a technique where defective cells are replaced by normal genes to prevent genetic disorders or diseases. 

Cellular metabolism is a function of DNA, where it integrates a complex set of biochemical pathways devoted to the maintenance of cell functions.

Conclusion

Nucleic acids play an important role in the storage and transfer of genetic data from one cell to another. Nucleic acids are categorised into two different forms, DNA, i.e., Deoxyribonucleic Acid and RNA, i.e., Ribonucleic Acid. These two function as the storing of genetic code and encoding, decoding, and transferring these genetic codes. RNA also helps in protein synthesis.