2.1: DNA and RNA Flashcards
DNA and RNA are both types of
nucleic acid
Where are DNA and RNA found
in all living cells
Basic function of DNA and RNA
carry information
DNA
stands for
deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
Is used to store genetic information
RNA
stands for
Ribonucleic acid
RNA
One of its main functions is to transfer genetic information from DNA to ribosomes
DNA and RNA are polymers of
nucleotide
Nucleotide
A type of biological molecule
Nucleotide made from
Pentose sugar (5 carbons)
nitrogen containing organic base
a phosphate group
Nucleotides are
monomers
Pentose sugar in a DNA nucleotide is
deoxyribose
4 bases in DNA
A,T,G,C adenine thymine guanine cytosine
Differences/ similarities between DNA nucleotides
same sugar group
same phosphate group
base can vary
Sugar in RNA
ribose sugar
RNA bases
4
A,U,C,G adenine uracil guanine cytosine
Polynucleotide
Polymer of nucleotides
Formation of polynucleotides
condensation reaction
between phosphate group and sugar group of 2 nucleotides
Bond in polynucelotides
phosphodiester bond
Phosphodiester bond made up of
a phosphate group
2 ester bonds
Chain of sugars and phosphates
sugar-phosphate backbone
DNA structure
2 polynucleotide chains in a double helix
Bonding in DNA
hydrogen bonds between bases
Complementary base pairing
each base can only join with one particular partner
Base pairing in DNA
A + T
C + G
Amount of hydrogen bonds between base pairs
A,T = 2 C,G = 3
Double helix formed by
2 anti parallel (running in opposite directions) polynucleotide strands twist = double helix
Who discovered double helix structure of DNA
Watson and Crick
RNA structure
Relatively short polynucleotide chain
