Nucleic acids are polymers resulting from the linkage of smaller units called nucleotides.
BACKGROUND:
Nucleic acids were first isolated in 1869, by Fredrich Miescher from the nuclei of pus cells.
NUCLEOTIDES:
Nucleotides are small molecules acting as monomers and join together into a chain forming nucleic acids. Nucleic acids are therefore also known as polynucleotides.
COMPONENTS OF NUCLEOTIDE:
A nucleotide is composed of three components namely
Nitrogen containing base
Pentose sugar (5 carbon monosaccharide)
Phosphate group
NITROGENOUS BASE:
The nitrogenous bases found in nucleotides (and hence nucleic acids) are heterocyclic compounds.