Physical and Chemical Properties of Nucleic Acids

Abstract

Nucleic acids have become intensely diversified in organisms throughout the evolution of life on our planet. These varied nucleic acids have a myriad of unique forms, all with particular physical and chemical properties that must be taken into consideration when preparing samples for laboratory work. These properties have been discovered over the course of a long and rich history of research on both DNA and RNA. This history of research has been summarized here and is accompanied with tables of the known important properties and functions of nucleic acids. Current research for the future directions of novel nucleic acid uses has also been included.