Index >>Chemical Nature of Genetic Materials

Chemical Nature of Genetic Materials
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid), the principal genetic materials of living organisms, are chemically called nucleic acids and are complex molecules larger than most proteins and contain carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and phosphorus. The nucleic acids were first isolated by F. Miescher in 1863 from the nuclei of white blood cells of pus and gained their name from the fact that they were acidic. and were first identified in nuclei (for details about the isolation and purification of nucleic acids by Miescher, see E. Rosenberg, 1971). Because, DNA is the only genetic material, of most living organism, so deserves priority in discussion.