THE NUCLEIC ACIDS

THE SUGAR-PHOSPHATE BACKBONE OF POLYNUCLEOTIDES

The nucleotides are all orientated in the same direction. The phosphate group joins the 3^rd Carbon of one sugar to the 5^th Carbon of the next in line.

ADDING IN THE BASES

The bases are attached to the 1^st Carbon.
Their order is important. It determines the genetic information of the molecule.

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© Paul Billiet 2008