INI

DNA and RNA Nitrogenous Bases - INI

DNA and RNA nitrogenous bases are the five nitrogen-containing bases that constitute nucleic acids carrying genetic information. They include Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G), and Uracil (U). DNA contains four bases (A, T, C, G) while RNA contains four bases (A, U, C, G). These bases form hydrogen bonds following specific complementary pairing rules (A-T/U, G-C), forming the foundation for DNA's double helix structure and the replication and transcription of genetic information. Classified into purines (double-ring structure) and pyrimidines (single-ring structure), they serve as the molecular foundation of life and form the core of molecular biology and genetics.

molecular biology genetics nucleic acids DNA RNA base pairing biochemistry

[item.adenine]
code=A
slug=adenine
name=Adenine
description=A purine base found in both DNA and RNA.
chemicalFormula=C₅H₅N₅
classification=Purine
complementaryPair_dna=T
complementaryPair_rna=U
foundIn=["DNA","RNA"]
hydrogenBonds=2

[item.thymine]
code=T
slug=thymine
name=Thymine
description=A pyrimidine base found only in DNA.
chemicalFormula=C₅H₆N₂O₂
classification=Pyrimidine
complementaryPair_dna=A
complementaryPair_rna=
foundIn=["DNA"]
hydrogenBonds=2

[item.cytosine]
code=C
slug=cytosine
name=Cytosine
description=A pyrimidine base found in both DNA and RNA.
chemicalFormula=C₄H₅N₃O
classification=Pyrimidine
complementaryPair_dna=G
complementaryPair_rna=G
foundIn=["DNA","RNA"]
hydrogenBonds=3

[item.guanine]
code=G
slug=guanine
name=Guanine
description=A purine base found in both DNA and RNA.
chemicalFormula=C₅H₅N₅O
classification=Purine
complementaryPair_dna=C
complementaryPair_rna=C
foundIn=["DNA","RNA"]
hydrogenBonds=3

[item.uracil]
code=U
slug=uracil
name=Uracil
description=A pyrimidine base found only in RNA.
chemicalFormula=C₄H₄N₂O₂
classification=Pyrimidine
complementaryPair_dna=
complementaryPair_rna=A
foundIn=["RNA"]
hydrogenBonds=2