ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Nucleic acid quaternary structure

Nucleic acids are the building blocks of our genetic material. They are made up of long chains of smaller molecules called nucleotides. Just like how a necklace is made up of many small beads, nucleic acids are made up of many nucleotides.

Now, the quaternary structure is all about how these nucleic acids interact with each other. Imagine you have a bunch of necklaces and you want to connect them to make a longer, more intricate piece of jewelry. In the same way, nucleic acids can join together to form a bigger and more complex structure.

This happens when two or more nucleic acid chains, also known as strands, pair up and twist around each other to form a double helix. This is like twisting two necklaces together to make one longer necklace. The way these strands pair up is very important because it determines how the genetic information will be read and copied.

Just like how you might wear a necklace in a certain way to show off its design, the quaternary structure of nucleic acids affects their function. For example, the way the strands are paired up in DNA allows the genetic information stored in it to be accurately passed down from one generation to the next.

So, to sum it up, nucleic acid quaternary structure is all about how multiple nucleic acid strands come together to form a bigger and more complex structure, similar to how necklaces can be connected to make a longer piece of jewelry. This structure affects how the nucleic acids function and how genetic information is passed down.