1.5 Nucleic Acids: Structure & DNA Replication Flashcards
What is a gene?
A section of DNA that codes for a protein/characteristic
Who discovered the double helix structure of DNA?
Watson and Crick
What did Rosalind Franklin do?
A X ray crystallography technique that led to the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA
What is an allele?
Versions of a gene located at the same loci on homologous chromosomes
What are the monomers of DNA?
Nucleotides
What are nucleotides made of?
Pentose Sugar
Phosphate
Base
What are DNA nucleotides made of?
Deoxyribose
Phosphate
Base
What are the four DNA bases
A C G T
How does the base sequence relate to the function of DNA?
Allows information to be stored
How does being helical relate to the function of DNA?
Compact
How does being a large molecule relate to the function of DNA?
Can store lots of information
How does being double stranded relate to the function of DNA?
To allow replication to occur semi-conservatively
How do weak hydrogen bonds between strands relate to the function of DNA?
Easy to separate strands for replication
How does a sugar phosphate backbone relate to the function of DNA?
Protects the bases
What is an intron?
Section of non coding DNA within a gene