Final answer:
The repeating subunits of DNA and RNA are joined by phosphodiester bonds, while the amino acids in proteins are connected by peptide bonds. These bonds are essential for the structure and function of nucleic acids and proteins, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemical Bonds in DNA, RNA, and Proteins
The repeating subunits of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are joined together by a type of chemical bond known as the phosphodiester bond. These nucleotides, the building blocks of nucleic acids, consist of a sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base. The sugar-phosphate portions of adjacent nucleotides bind to one another, creating the backbone of the polynucleotide chain.
In DNA, which contains two such chains forming a double helix, the two strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between the complementary nitrogenous bases. This is fundamental to the genetic code and heredity, as DNA carries the instructions for synthesizing proteins, with RNA serving as a key intermediary in this process.
Proteins, on the other hand, are formed by the bonding of amino acids through peptide bonds. As amino acids join together in a chain, the carboxyl group of one amino acid links to the amino group of the next through a dehydration synthesis reaction, resulting in a polymer known as a polypeptide or protein.