What Is DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

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∟Nucleobase, Nucleoside, Nucleotide, DNA and RNA

∟What Is DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

This section provides a quick introduction of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid), which a special nucleic acid, which only uses deoxyriboses as 5-carbon sugars and 4 primary nucleobases: Adenosine (A), Cytidine (C), Guanosine (G) and Thymidine(T).

What Is DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)? - A DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is a special nucleic acid, which only uses deoxyriboses as 5-carbon sugars and 4 primary nucleobases: Adenosine (A), Cytidine (C), Guanosine (G) and Thymidine (T).

The picture below shows a section of 4 nucleotide residues of a DNA (source: scienceprofonline.com):

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) Uses Deoxyriboses (5-Carbon Sugars)

The difference between a DNA and a RNA is actually very small from the component and atom point of view as illustrated in the diagram below (source: gatech.edu). In a RNA, Riboses, which have an extra oxygen, are used as 5-carbon sugars. In a DNA, Thymines, which have an extra carbon, are used instead of Uridines.