Question

Alvin is studying a model of the chemical structure of a common nucleic acid. He observes that the nucleic acid consists of four nitrogenous

bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U).

Alvin's observation most strongly supports which of these conclusions?

A. The nucleic acid is a form of RNA, and is not DNA.

B. The nucleic acid is either mRNA or rRNA, but not tRNA.

C. The nucleic acid is either RNA or DNA.

D. The nucleic acid is DNA, and is not RNA.

Answer 1

A) option is correct

Step-by-step explanation:

• RNA is a linear polymer of ribonucleotides
• Sugar in RNA is ribose instead of deoxyribose which is present in DNA
• The four nitrogenous bases present in RNA are adenine, cytosine, guanine and uracil whereas that in DNA are adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine
• RNA molecules carry genetic information from DNA to proteins, cannot transmit from one generation to next generation as a genetic material
• Due to steric hindrance by the 2'-OH group of ribose sugar, RNA unable to form double helix