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4.12: Introduction to Nucleic Acids

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    What you’ll learn to do: Discuss nucleic acids and the role they play in DNA and RNA

    Humans have two types of nucleic acids in their bodies: DNA and RNA. These molecules contain the set of instructions for our cells: they determine who and what we are. But what makes up our DNA?

    A strand of RNA next to DNA. RNA is a single helix composed of cytosine, guanine, adenine, and uracil. DNA is a double helix composed of cytosine, guanine, adenine, and thymine.
    Figure 1. Spot the differences between DNA and RNA

    In this outcome, we’ll learn about the components of DNA and RNA and get a brief introduction to how they work.

    Contributors and Attributions

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    • Introduction to Nucleic Acids. Authored by: Shelli Carter and Lumen Learning. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution
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    4.12: Introduction to Nucleic Acids is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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