Both human DNA and RNA are chiral molecules. The chirality in DNA and RNA arises due to the presence of ___

Question

Match List-I with List-II

List-I	List-II
(I) Vitamin C	(A) Thiamine
(II) Vitamin B₁	(B) Riboflavin
(III) Vitamin B₆	(C) Ascorbic Acid
(IV) Vitamin B₂	(D) Pyridoxine

Answer 1

The question asks about the source of chirality in DNA and RNA molecules. Both human DNA and RNA are indeed chiral molecules, which means they have a property of handedness and cannot be superimposed on their mirror images. This property is akin to how left and right hands are mirror images but not identical.

The chirality in DNA and RNA arises primarily from the sugar component of the nucleotides. Let's evaluate each of the given options:

Base unit: The base units in nucleic acids, which include adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil, do not contribute to chirality themselves. They are planar structures that do not exhibit chirality.
Chiral phosphate unit: The phosphate group, while it contributes to the backbone structure of nucleic acids, does not impart chirality to the overall molecular structure.
L-sugar component: In biological systems, L-sugars are not typically used in the structure of nucleic acids.
D-sugar component: The sugar component in both DNA and RNA is primarily in the D-configuration. In DNA, it is 2-deoxyribose, and in RNA, it is ribose. This D-sugar component is indeed chiral and thereby imparts chirality to the entire DNA and RNA molecules.

Thus, the chirality in DNA and RNA arises due to the presence of the D-sugar component.

To further understand, all naturally occurring nucleotides in human DNA and RNA consist of sugars that are in the D-form. This D-sugar configuration is crucial for the biological function of these molecules as it influences the overall 3-dimensional helical structure critical for DNA activities like replication and RNA activities like transcription.

Therefore, the correct answer is the D-sugar component.

Answer 2

The question asks about the source of chirality in DNA and RNA molecules. Both human DNA and RNA are indeed chiral molecules, which means they have a property of handedness and cannot be superimposed on their mirror images. This property is akin to how left and right hands are mirror images but not identical.

The chirality in DNA and RNA arises primarily from the sugar component of the nucleotides. Let's evaluate each of the given options:

Base unit: The base units in nucleic acids, which include adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil, do not contribute to chirality themselves. They are planar structures that do not exhibit chirality.
Chiral phosphate unit: The phosphate group, while it contributes to the backbone structure of nucleic acids, does not impart chirality to the overall molecular structure.
L-sugar component: In biological systems, L-sugars are not typically used in the structure of nucleic acids.
D-sugar component: The sugar component in both DNA and RNA is primarily in the D-configuration. In DNA, it is 2-deoxyribose, and in RNA, it is ribose. This D-sugar component is indeed chiral and thereby imparts chirality to the entire DNA and RNA molecules.

Thus, the chirality in DNA and RNA arises due to the presence of the D-sugar component.

To further understand, all naturally occurring nucleotides in human DNA and RNA consist of sugars that are in the D-form. This D-sugar configuration is crucial for the biological function of these molecules as it influences the overall 3-dimensional helical structure critical for DNA activities like replication and RNA activities like transcription.

Therefore, the correct answer is the D-sugar component.

Both human DNA and RNA are chiral molecules. The chirality in DNA and RNA arises due to the presence of ___

Show Hint

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

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