This graph shows
how quickly ultraviolet (UV) energy deposited in the electrons
of a nucleoside is converted to heat, which is then absorbed
by water surrounding the nucleoside. Here, time is measured in
femtoseconds, or quadrillions of a second. The diagram to the
upper right of the image depicts a particular nucleoside -- adenosine.
This molecule consists of a UV-absorbing base (shown in red)
and a simple sugar (shown in gray) that binds it to the RNA backbone.
This base is also found in DNA.
This graph shows
how quickly ultraviolet (UV) energy deposited in the electrons
of a nucleoside is converted to heat, which is then absorbed
by water surrounding the nucleoside. Here, time is measured in
femtoseconds, or quadrillions of a second. The diagram to the
upper right of the image depicts a particular nucleoside -- adenosine.
This molecule consists of a UV-absorbing base (shown in red)
and a simple sugar (shown in gray) that binds it to the RNA backbone.
This base is also found in DNA.