2.1 - 2.4 Nucleic acids Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 2 types of nucleic acid?

A

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)

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2
Q

Describe the structure of a DNA nucleotide

A
  • Phosphate
  • Deoxyribose sugar
  • Nitrogenous base
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3
Q

Name the 4 DNA bases

A

Adenine
Thymine
Guanine
Cytosine

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4
Q

Describe the structure of an RNA nucleotide

A
  • Phosphate
  • Ribose sugar
  • Nitrogenous base
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5
Q

Name the 4 RNA bases

A

Adenine
Uracil
Guanine
Cytosine

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6
Q

What is the structure of DNA?

A
  • Double helix
  • Anti-parallel nucleotide strands
  • Complementary base pairing
  • Phosphodiester bond between the 5’ carbon of one nucleotide and the 3’ carbon of another
  • Hydrogen bonding holding DNA strands together
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7
Q

Name the complimentary base pairs

A

Adenine - Thymine
Cytosine - Guanine

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8
Q

What is the function of DNA?

A
  • Store genetic information
  • Allow protein synthesis
  • Allows genetic info to pass from cell to cell and generation to generation
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9
Q

Describe the process of DNA replication

A
  1. DNA Helicase unszips the two strands by breaking the hydrogen bonds between the complementary base pairs. This allows each strand to act as a template.
  2. Free DNA nucleotides align with their complementary base pair on the exposed strands. They attach via hydrogen bonds (A with T, C with G)
  3. DNA Polymerase joins adjacent nucleoides together in a condensation reaction. This forms a phosphodiester bond between nucleotides.
  4. Each DNA molecule now has one new strand and one original strand. Therefore this process is called semi-conservative replication.
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10
Q

Describe how DNA’s sugar-phosphate backbone contributes to its function

A

Provides strength/stability to molecule

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11
Q

Describe how DNA’s length contributes to its function

A

Long so can store lots of information

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12
Q

Describe how DNA’s helical structure contributes to its function

A

Compact

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13
Q

Describe how DNA having a sequence of bases contributes to its function

A

Allows for very accurate replication

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14
Q

Describe how DNA’s double stranded structure contributes to its function

A

Both strands can act as templates during DNA replication

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15
Q

Describe how DNA’s relatively weak hydrogen bonds contribute to its function

A

Allows strands to be easily separated for replication or protein synthesis

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16
Q

Describe the structure of ATP

A
  • 3 phosphate groups
  • Ribose sugar
  • Adenine base
17
Q

Give the word and symbol equation illustrating how ATP stores energy

A

ATP + H₂O ⇌ ADP + Pi + E

ATP + water ⇌ ADP + inorganic phosphate + energy

18
Q

Name the enzyme which converts:
ATP + H₂O → ADP + Pi + E

A

ATP hydrolase

19
Q

Name the enzyme which converts:
ATP + H₂O ← ADP + Pi + E

A

ATP synthase

20
Q

What are the two main roles of ATP?

A
  • Providing energy for energy-requiring reactions
  • Phosphorylation of molecules (inorganic phosphate can be transferred to other molecules)
21
Q

Give examples of ATP providing energy for energy-requiring reactions

A
  • Muscle contraction
  • Active transport
  • Metabolic processes
  • Endo/exocytosis
22
Q

Why is energy stored as ATP?

A
  • Only one hydrolysis reaction required so energy can be released quickly
  • Releases small, manageable amounts of energy
23
Q

Why can cells not store ATP?

A
  • It is too reactive
  • Instead, energy-demanding cells have more mitochondria
24
Q

Explain why water is a solvent

A

Partially + and - charges of water attract the charges on other molecules, causing them to separate (dissolve)

25
Q

Explain why water being a solvent is of biological significance

A

Metabolic reactions inside living organisms can only happen when the reactants are dissolved in water

26
Q

Explain why water has a high specific heat capacity

A

Can absorb large amounts of heat before it changes temp, due to h-bonds

27
Q

Explain why water having a high specific heat capacity is of biological importance

A

Large bodies of water have a stable temperature (important for habitats)

28
Q

Explain why water has a relatively large latent heat of vaporisation

A

Some molecules of water have enough kinetic energy to evaporate. These molecules take energy with them so the water cools down.

29
Q

Explain why water having a relatively large latent heat of vaporisation is of biological importance

A

Provides a cooling effect via evaporation i.e sweating

30
Q

Explain why water has strong cohesion between molecules

A

Due to their polarity, water molecules attract each other and form hydrogen bonds

31
Q

Explain why water having strong cohesion between molecules is of biological importance

A

Supports column of water moving up the xylem in transpiration stream.
Surface tension can support small organisms on top of the water.

32
Q

Describe the function of hydrogen ions (H+)

A

Control pH

33
Q

Describe the function of iron ions (Fe2+)

A

A component of haemaglobin

34
Q

Describe the function of sodium ions (Na+)

A

Transport of glucose and amino acids

35
Q

Describe the function of phosphate ions

A

Component of DNA and ATP