6.1.B—Describe the characteristics of DNA that allow it to be used as hereditary material

Describe the characteristics of DNA that allow it to be used as hereditary material.

• Nucleic acids exhibit specific nucleotide base pairing that is conserved through evolution.
  • i. Purines (guanine and adenine) have a double ring structur e.
  • ii. Pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine, and uracil) ha ve a single ring structure.
  • iii. Purines pair with pyrimidines: adenine with thymine (or uracil in RNA) and guanine with cytosine.