Biomolecules

Biology · Class 11

Simulation · Biology · Class 11

Nucleoside or nucleotide?

"Nucleoside or nucleotide?" is a free, interactive Class 11 Biology simulation for NEET, built on the NCERT section "Nucleic acids" in Biomolecules. Snap a base onto a sugar (nucleoside), add a phosphate (nucleotide), then chain nucleotides; the label, sugar type and purine/pyrimidine ring count update. NEET has asked about this idea 1 time in 10 years of papers.

From the lesson Nucleic acids in Biomolecules. Change the values and watch what happens.

Nucleoside or nucleotide?Biology · Class 11

What it shows

NCERT §9.1, §9.6

Snap a base onto a sugar (nucleoside), add a phosphate (nucleotide), then chain nucleotides; the label, sugar type and purine/pyrimidine ring count update.

Controls

4 to try

  • Segmentedbase A / G / C / T / U
  • Segmentedsugar ribose / 2'-deoxyribose
  • Togglephosphate esterified
  • Buttonadd to chain

Try this

Build thymidylic acid, then change one part to make a uridine.

Common mistake

Nucleoside and nucleotide swapped; uracil/cytosine called purines.

In NEET

10 years of papers

Asked 1 time in 10 years of NEET.

See the past questions: Biomolecules (chapter)

The idea behind it

NCERT §9.6

  • Nucleic acids, the remaining macromolecule of the acid-insoluble fraction, are polynucleotides.
  • Polysaccharides, polypeptides and polynucleotides together make up the true macromolecular fraction of a tissue or cell.
  • The building block is the nucleotide, with three chemically distinct parts: a heterocyclic compound (the nitrogen base), a monosaccharide (the sugar) and phosphoric acid (phosphate).
  • Five bases occur: adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine and uracil. Of these, adenine and guanine are substituted purines, and the other three are substituted pyrimidines.
  • The sugar is either ribose or 2' deoxyribose, both pentoses. A nucleic acid with deoxyribose is deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA); one with ribose is ribonucleic acid (RNA).

Questions

4 answers

What does the "Nucleoside or nucleotide?" simulation show?
Snap a base onto a sugar (nucleoside), add a phosphate (nucleotide), then chain nucleotides; the label, sugar type and purine/pyrimidine ring count update.
What mistake does the "Nucleoside or nucleotide?" simulation fix?
A common mistake it clears up: nucleoside and nucleotide swapped; uracil/cytosine called purines.
Has NEET asked about this idea?
Yes. NEET has asked about this idea 1 time in 10 years of papers.
Is this simulation free?
Yes. It is free and runs in the browser on a phone or a laptop. It belongs to the lesson "Nucleic acids" in Biomolecules (Class 11 Biology).

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