Name the product obtained on complete hydrolysis of DNA. Enumerate the structural differences between DNA and RNA. In what way is a nucleotide different from a nucleoside? Illustrate with examples.
The products of complete hydrolysis of DNA are:
(i) a pentose sugar
(ii) two types of heterocyclic nitrogenous bases.
(iii) phosphoric acid
The structural differences between DNA and RNA are:
(i) DNA has deoxyribose while RNA has ribose sugar.
(ii) DNA contains thymine and RNA has uracil.
(iii) DNA is double stranded while RNA is single stranded.
Nucleosides: The N-glycosides of purine or pyrimidine bases with pentose sugars are known as nucleosides.
Nucleotides: A nucleotide is a phosphate ester of nucleoside and consists of a purine or pyrimidine base, the 5-carbon sugar and one or more phosphate groups.
Nitrogen Base + Sugar + Phosphate = Nucleotide
