1.2- Nucleic acids Flashcards
what are the two types of nucleic acids?
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
What is the function of DNA?
to store genetic information
What is the function of RNA?
to transfer genetic info from the DNA to the ribosomes
what is a nucleic acid?
long chains of nucleotides
what is the structure of a nucleotide?
one phosphate group
a pentose sugar
a nitrogenous base
what are the components of a DNA nucleotide?
deoxyribose sugar
a phosphate group
an organic base (adenine, guanine, cytosine or thymine)
what are the components of RNA nucleotide?
ribose sugar
a phosphate group
an organic base (adenine, guanine, cytosine or uracil)
what reaction occurs between two nucleotides to form a ____________ bond?
a condensation reaction forms a phosphodiester bond
what are 3 differences between a DNA molecule and a RNA molecule?
- DNA is a double helix, RNA is a single helix
- DNA is anti-parallel, RNA is not
- DNA contains thymine, RNA contains uracil
how many hydrogen bonds are there in each DNA pair?
A + T= 2
C + G= 3
what does semi-conservative replication of DNA mean?
ensuring genetic continuity between generations of cells as half of the strands in each new DNA molecules are from the original DNA molecule
what are the two enzymes involved in semi-conservative replication?
- DNA helicase -> breaks hydrogen bonds
- DNA polymerase -> breaks phosphodiester bonds
what is the first step for semi conservative replication?
- DNA helicase breaks the hydrogen bonds between bases on the two polynucleotide DNA strands. The helix unwinds to form two single strands.
second step for semi-conservative replication?
- Each original single strand acts as a template for a new strand. Complementary base pairing means the free- floating DNA nucleotides are attracted to the complementary exposed bases on each template strand (A with T and C with G)
third step of semi-conservative replication?
- Condensation reaction join the nucleotides of the new strands together, catalysed by the DNA polymerase. Hydrogen bonds form between the bases on the new and original strands