NEET Exam  >  NEET Notes  >  Biology Class 11  >  Nucleic Acids and Polysaccrides

Nucleic Acids and Polysaccrides | Biology Class 11 - NEET PDF Download

What is Polysaccharides?

A polysaccharide is a type of carbohydrate, specifically a complex carbohydrate, that consists of multiple monosaccharide (simple sugar) units linked together. These long chains of sugar molecules can be quite large and complex. Polysaccharides serve various important functions in living organisms, such as energy storage, structural support, and cellular recognition.

Nucleic Acids and Polysaccrides | Biology Class 11 - NEET

Polysaccharides have diverse functions in living organisms, including energy storage, structural support, and as components of important molecules like DNA and RNA. They are made up of long chains of monosaccharides (simple sugars) linked together by glycosidic bonds, and the specific arrangement and type of monosaccharides determine the properties and functions of the polysaccharide.

Common examples of polysaccharides include starch, glycogen, cellulose, and chitin.

Characterstics of Polysaccharides (Carbohydrates)

  • The acid insoluble pellet contains polysaccharides, which are long chains of sugars.
  • Polysaccharides like cellulose, starch, glycogen, and inulin are examples of these macromolecules.
  • Cellulose is a homopolymer made up of glucose units and is the main component of plant cell walls.
  • Starch and glycogen serve as energy storage forms in plants and animals, respectively.
  • In a polysaccharide chain like glycogen, the ends are termed as the reducing end and the non-reducing end.
  • Cellulose forms plant cell walls and is the main material in products like paper and cotton fiber.
  • Complex polysaccharides like chitin, found in arthropod exoskeletons, are mostly homopolymers with unique structures.

Question for Nucleic Acids and Polysaccrides
Try yourself:
Which polysaccharide serves as an energy storage form in animals?
View Solution

Types of Polysaccharides

Polysaccharide are categorized in two ways:

(a) Homopolysaccharides.

(b) Heteropolysaccharides.

Homopolysaccharides, are a type of polysaccharide where every unit within the structure is made up of the same kind of monosaccharide. Unlike heteropolysaccharides, which contain a variety of monosaccharide types, homopolysaccharides are characterized by their uniformity in monosaccharide composition throughout.

Heteropolysaccharides, or heteroglycans, are polysaccharides that consist of multiple types of monosaccharides, resulting in a wide array of sugar units within their structures. Unlike homopolysaccharides, where each monosaccharide unit is identical, heteropolysaccharides exhibit diversity in monosaccharide composition, featuring different structures and properties.

What are Nucleic Acids?

Nucleic acids are large biomolecules essential for life, found in all living organisms. They play crucial roles in storing, transmitting, and expressing genetic information. There are two main types of nucleic acids: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). 

  • Nucleic acids are polynucleotides, essential macromolecules in living tissues, along with polysaccharides and polypeptides.
  • A nucleotide, consisting of a heterocyclic compound, a monosaccharide, and a phosphate, is the basic unit of nucleic acids.
  • Nitrogenous bases in nucleic acids include adenine, guanine, uracil, cytosine, and thymine.
  • The sugar component in nucleotides is either ribose or 2’-deoxyribose, determining if it's DNA or RNA.
  • DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) are the two main types of nucleic acids.

Nucleic Acids and Polysaccrides | Biology Class 11 - NEET

Question for Nucleic Acids and Polysaccrides
Try yourself:
What is the main difference between homopolysaccharides and heteropolysaccharides?
View Solution

Nucleotides

Nucleotides link together through phosphodiester bonds to form long chains, which constitute the backbone of DNA and RNA molecules. The sequence of nucleotides along these chains carries genetic information and plays a vital role in the functioning of cells.

Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA. They are composed of three main components:

  • Nitrogenous base: This is a heterocyclic compound that contains nitrogen atoms. In DNA, the nitrogenous bases are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). In RNA, thymine is replaced by uracil (U).
  • Sugar molecule: In DNA, the sugar molecule is deoxyribose, hence the name deoxyribonucleic acid. In RNA, the sugar molecule is ribose, giving rise to ribonucleic acid.
  • Phosphate group: This is a phosphoric acid or phosphate group attached to the sugar molecule.

Nucleic Acids and Polysaccrides | Biology Class 11 - NEET

The document Nucleic Acids and Polysaccrides | Biology Class 11 - NEET is a part of the NEET Course Biology Class 11.
All you need of NEET at this link: NEET
182 videos|365 docs|153 tests

Top Courses for NEET

FAQs on Nucleic Acids and Polysaccrides - Biology Class 11 - NEET

1. What are Polysaccharides?
Ans. Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates made up of long chains of monosaccharide units. They serve as energy storage molecules and structural components in cells.
2. What are the characteristics of Polysaccharides (Carbohydrates)?
Ans. Polysaccharides are large molecules composed of multiple sugar units, they are insoluble in water, and they play a vital role in storing energy and providing structural support in living organisms.
3. What are the types of Polysaccharides?
Ans. The main types of polysaccharides include starch, glycogen, and cellulose. Starch is the primary energy storage molecule in plants, glycogen serves as the energy storage molecule in animals, and cellulose provides structural support in plant cell walls.
4. What are Nucleic Acids?
Ans. Nucleic acids are large biomolecules essential for the storage and expression of genetic information. They are composed of nucleotide units and come in two main forms - DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).
5. How are Nucleic Acids and Polysaccharides related?
Ans. Nucleic acids and polysaccharides are both essential biomolecules in living organisms. Nucleic acids store and transmit genetic information, while polysaccharides serve as energy storage molecules and structural components. Both play crucial roles in the functioning of cells and organisms.
182 videos|365 docs|153 tests
Download as PDF
Explore Courses for NEET exam

Top Courses for NEET

Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev
Related Searches

Sample Paper

,

Objective type Questions

,

shortcuts and tricks

,

video lectures

,

study material

,

Nucleic Acids and Polysaccrides | Biology Class 11 - NEET

,

Important questions

,

Extra Questions

,

Nucleic Acids and Polysaccrides | Biology Class 11 - NEET

,

Semester Notes

,

mock tests for examination

,

Free

,

Summary

,

past year papers

,

Previous Year Questions with Solutions

,

Exam

,

practice quizzes

,

Nucleic Acids and Polysaccrides | Biology Class 11 - NEET

,

Viva Questions

,

pdf

,

ppt

,

MCQs

;