Genetic Information

How Does Adoption Affect Adoptive Children?

Children who were adopted may wonder about their birth family. Especially during adolescence, concerns or questions about who they look like or what their birth family was like may dominate their thoughts. According to Hannah Ward, adopted at age...

Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids

Nucleotides are the chemical building blocks of nucleic acids, which are large biomolecules that include DNA and the related compound RNA. Your body depends on nucleic acids to provide cells with genetic information that they use to produce...

What Are Nucleic Acids Good For?

Nucleic acids are large molecules made up of building blocks called nucleotides, which each consist of a sugar molecule, a phosphorus-containing group called a phosphate and a nitrogenous base. Living organisms use nucleic acids for several...

Are Nucleic Acids Good for a Diet?

Nucleic acids are very large carbon-based molecules that encode genetic information and provide the means by which cells produce functional and structural proteins from that information. You have minimal ability to absorb nucleic acids from the...

What Are Three Ways That Nucleic Acids Are Used in Your Body?

Nucleic acids are very large biomolecules that encode your genetic information and help the cells produce functional and structural proteins from that genetic information. Your DNA is probably the most familiar of the nucleic acids, but you also...

How Does Influenza Replicate?

The first step of influenza's replication process is invading the cell. Influenza attaches itself to epithelial cells (cells that line tissues), usually in the lungs, nose and throat. The influenza virus attaches itself to these cells using a...

What Are Nucleic Acids Used for?

There are many different roles that nucleic acids, which include DNA and RNA, play in the human body and in other living organisms. Scientists continue to identify new and different functions of nucleic acids on a regular basis. The most common...

Cells That Stop Your Period

A woman's menstrual period, which typically occurs approximately once a month, represents the sloughing of proliferated uterine lining tissue. The tissue thickens to provide a place for a fertilized egg to implant. Once it becomes clear that no...

What Is the Role of Nucleic Acids in Protein Synthesis?

Protein synthesis is the process of making proteins from their building block molecules, amino acids. Nucleic acids -- DNA and RNA -- are essential to protein synthesis. DNA provides the instructions a cell uses to make protein, while RNA acts as...

Foods You Can Eat to Obtain Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are large biomolecules that encode genetic information and turn that information into functional proteins. They include DNA and the related RNA. You may think that you need to eat foods to obtain nucleic acids or their building...

How to Find a Birth Family

You may wish to find your birth family for a variety of reasons, such as wanting to know why you were given up for adoption or whether you have any living blood relatives. You may simply need your family medical history or genetic information....

Right & Left Brain Development in the Baby

From the third trimester of gestation through 24 months, the neural connections in a baby's brain increase by about threefold. During this time, the infant brain imprints genetic information into brain cells and body cells. To properly develop...

Reasons for Blood Cancer

Blood cancer is characterized by the abnormal growth of red blood cells, bone marrow cells or cells of the lymphatic system. Blood cancer is divided into three subcategories: leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Leukemia is a type of cancer...

What Elements Are Found in Nucleic Acids?

Nucleic acids are large, carbon-based molecules that living organisms use to encode genetic information and produce functional and structural proteins from that genetic information. There are two types of nucleic acid: DNA and RNA. DNA, which...

Viral Characteristics of Influenza

While many people colloquially refer to seasonal upper respiratory illnesses as "the flu," in reality, the flu is a specific illness caused by the influenza virus. Flu infections typically come on quickly, display rapidly progressing symptoms...

Define Ribose

Ribose is a monosaccharide aldopentose, which means it's a single-sugar unit that has five carbon atoms as part of its chemical structure. Ribose is necessary for formation of ribonucleic acid and production of adenosine triphosphate. It's not a...

Paramecium Cell Functions

Paramecium are a genus of organisms within the kingdom Protista, which represents single cell organisms and some multicellular algae. While the organisms in the more familiar plant and animal kingdoms are composed of many cells that work together...

What Are the Disadvantages of Genetic Testing?

People consider having genetic testing done for several reasons. People who have a family history of a genetic disease, couples planning to get pregnant and pregnant women concerned about genetic anomalies in their baby may all consider genetic...

Dietary Sources of Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are the building blocks of genetic information. They bond together to form long strands of DNA or RNA, which function as a blueprint, allowing the cell to generate proteins it requires to survive. Your body can recycle nucleic acids...

Vitamins for DNA

Your DNA -- the organic material that contains your genetic information -- is found in almost every cell in your body. DNA is made up of smaller molecules called nucleic acids, which bond together to form long strands. The sequence of distinct...

How Are Traits Inherited From Parents?

Traits are characteristics each person has that make up everything about him. These can include physical characteristics such as appearance, as well as psychological characteristics, like a tendency to be creative or optimistic. Some traits,...

What Are Nucleic Acids Made Of?

Nucleic acids are large biomolecules, and include both DNA and RNA. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is genetic material. RNA, or ribonucleic acid, helps the cells make proteins from DNA. Both types of nucleic acids consist of building blocks called...

Nucleic Acid in Human Nutrition

Nucleic acids are important biomolecules that encode genetic information and help to produce structural and functional proteins from that information. While you eat nucleic acids whenever you eat foods that contain whole cells -- produce and...

The Relationship Between Monomers, Polymers & Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are large biomolecules that encode genetic information and help to produce functional and structural proteins from that information. They include the familiar DNA and the less familiar but related molecule, RNA. Nucleic acids are...

Lipids, Proteins & Nucleic Acids

Your cells consist of many types of molecules that work together to produce functional tissues and organ systems. Lipids -- more commonly known as fats -- proteins, and nucleic acids are three types of large biomolecules. You obtain proteins and...

Foods That Signify Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids such as ribonucleic acid are popular dietary supplements, but they're not actually necessary for you to maintain normal cellular function. You don't even need to consume nucleic acids in foods to stay healthy, though any food that...

What Are the Effects of Adoption on the Child?

While adoption might be the best choice for all of the parties involved in the process, birth mothers and adoptive parents may forget how it can ultimately affect the adopted child. Some children will thrive in their new environment with adoring...

Early Developmental Embryonic Changes

The first week of an embryo's life is critical to its survival. During this time, the embryo must undergo genetic, metabolic and developmental changes that allow for implantation in the uterine lining. The mother's menses will cease, and...

Sickle Cell Disease Health Video (Video)

Sickle cell anemia or sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that causes some of the red bloods to assume a sickle or elongated shape, resulting in poor blood flow and improper oxygen delivery. Get expert tips and advice on preventing,...

Brittle Bone Disease Health Video (Video)

Brittle bone disease, or osteogenesis imperfecta, is a genetic bone disorder wherein sufferers lack proper proteins to make healthy bones. Learn about brittle bone disease, including treatments, in this video.