Chemistry 12th Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0078021510
ISBN 13: 978-0-07802-151-0

Chapter 25 - Synthetic and Natural Organic Polymers - Questions & Problems - Page 1078: 25.28

Answer

Nucleic acids play an essential role in protein synthesis. Compared to proteins, which are made of up to 20 different amino acids, the composition of nucleic acids is considerably simpler. A DNA or RNA molecule contains only 4 types of building blocks: purines, pyrimidines, furanose sugars and phosphate groups. Nucleic acids have simpler, uniform structures because they are primarily used for protein synthesis, whereas proteins have many uses.

Work Step by Step

Nucleic acids play an essential role in protein synthesis. Compared to proteins, which are made of up to 20 different amino acids, the composition of nucleic acids is considerably simpler. A DNA or RNA molecule contains only 4 types of building blocks: purines, pyrimidines, furanose sugars and phosphate groups. Nucleic acids have simpler, uniform structures because they are primarily used for protein synthesis, whereas proteins have many uses.
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