Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

34. Nucleic Acids

Intro to Nucleic Acids

Organic Chemistry

34. Nucleic Acids

Intro to Nucleic Acids

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Multiple Choice

Why do researchers believe that the first self-replicating molecule was RNA?

RNA can store genetic information and catalyze chemical reactions.

RNA is the only nucleic acid found in all living organisms.

RNA is more stable than DNA under extreme conditions.

RNA is composed of more complex nucleotides than DNA.

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Verified step by step guidance

Understand the role of RNA in biological systems: RNA is capable of both storing genetic information and catalyzing chemical reactions, which are essential functions for a self-replicating molecule.

Recognize the versatility of RNA: Unlike DNA, RNA can act as a ribozyme, meaning it can catalyze its own synthesis and other chemical reactions, which supports the hypothesis of RNA being the first self-replicating molecule.

Consider the presence of RNA in all living organisms: RNA's universal presence suggests it played a fundamental role in the early stages of life, possibly as the first self-replicating molecule.

Evaluate RNA's stability: While RNA is generally less stable than DNA, it is more stable under certain extreme conditions, which could have been prevalent on early Earth, allowing it to persist and replicate.

Analyze the complexity of RNA nucleotides: Although RNA nucleotides are not necessarily more complex than DNA nucleotides, their ability to form diverse structures and functions supports the idea of RNA as a versatile and early biomolecule.