Which statement about nucleic acids is true?

Study for the Medical Chemistry Test. Explore multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Get exam-ready with engaging quizzes and comprehensive study materials.

Multiple Choice

Which statement about nucleic acids is true?

Nucleic acids primarily store genetic information in the sequence of their bases. As polymers of nucleotides, DNA holds the hereditary instructions in a stable, replicable structure. This information is read and used to make proteins and RNA through transcription and translation, passing traits from one generation to the next. While individual nucleotides can participate in energy transfer (for example, ATP is a nucleotide), the general role of nucleic acids as a class is not energy storage. They also do not form cell membranes, and while some RNA molecules can have catalytic activity, the defining feature of nucleic acids is their role in encoding and transmitting genetic information.

Nucleic acids primarily store genetic information in the sequence of their bases. As polymers of nucleotides, DNA holds the hereditary instructions in a stable, replicable structure. This information is read and used to make proteins and RNA through transcription and translation, passing traits from one generation to the next. While individual nucleotides can participate in energy transfer (for example, ATP is a nucleotide), the general role of nucleic acids as a class is not energy storage. They also do not form cell membranes, and while some RNA molecules can have catalytic activity, the defining feature of nucleic acids is their role in encoding and transmitting genetic information.

More practice questions