Nucleic Acids Biochemistry

Nucleic acids biochemistry is the study of the chemical structure, properties, and metabolism of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), the essential polymers that store and transmit genetic information. This field delves into the composition of their monomeric units—nucleotides—and examines the intricate processes of their synthesis (replication and transcription), degradation, and repair. Central to this discipline is understanding how the sequence of these molecules encodes the blueprint for life, directing protein synthesis and regulating cellular function, as well as exploring the enzymatic machinery, such as polymerases and nucleases, that governs these vital activities.

1. Introduction to Nucleic Acids
   1. Historical Background
      1. Early Discoveries of Nucleic Acids
         1. Friedrich Miescher's Discovery
         2. Isolation from White Blood Cell Nuclei
         3. Initial Chemical Characterization
      2. Identification of DNA as Genetic Material
         1. Griffith's Transformation Experiments
         2. Avery-MacLeod-McCarty Experiments
         3. Hershey-Chase Bacteriophage Experiments
         4. Chargaff's Rules
      3. Discovery of DNA Structure
         1. X-ray Crystallography Studies
         2. Watson-Crick Model
         3. Rosalind Franklin's Contributions
      4. RNA Discovery and Characterization
         1. Early RNA Isolation
         2. Recognition of RNA Diversity
   2. Central Dogma of Molecular Biology
      1. Flow of Genetic Information
         1. DNA to RNA Transcription
         2. RNA to Protein Translation
         3. Information Storage and Transfer
      2. Exceptions to the Central Dogma
         1. Reverse Transcription
         2. RNA Replication
         3. Prions and Protein-Only Inheritance
   3. Overview of DNA and RNA
      1. Roles in Information Storage
         1. Genetic Information Repository
         2. Hereditary Material
         3. Genome Organization
      2. Roles in Information Transfer
         1. Transcriptional Information Flow
         2. Translational Information Flow
         3. Regulatory Information Transfer
      3. Comparison of DNA and RNA
         1. Structural Differences
            1. Sugar Components
            2. Base Composition
            3. Strand Organization
         2. Functional Differences
            1. Information Storage vs Processing
            2. Catalytic Properties
            3. Regulatory Functions
         3. Stability and Localization
            1. Chemical Stability
            2. Cellular Distribution
            3. Half-Life Differences