2.1 Nucleic Acid and RNA and DNA

Question 1

What are the 3 components that make up a nucleotide

Answer 1

Pentose sugar, phosphate group and a N containing organic base( C,T,U,A,G)

Question 2

How are the different components in a nucleotide joined together

Answer 2

This is through a condensation reaction which forms a mononucleotide

Question 3

How are 2 mononucleotides joined together and where does the reaction occur

Answer 3

Joined through condensation reaction between deoxyribose sugar of one nucleotide and phosphate group of another. This is called a phosphodiester bond.

Question 4

What are the 3 components in RNA

Answer 4

Phosphate group
Pentose sugar which is always ribose
A,G,C,U

Question 5

3 different Rna

Answer 5

Transfers genetic information from DNA to the ribosome. Ribosome made up of protein and another type of RNA. 3rd type involved in protein synthesis.

Question 6

What is the 3 components of DNA

Answer 6

Phosphate group
Pentose sugar which is always deoxyribose
Organic bases(A,T,G,C)

Question 7

How are the 2 polynucleotide chains linked together in DNA

Answer 7

The chains are linked together by hydrogen bonds formed between certain bases

Question 8

What are the organic base pairings in dna

Answer 8

Adenine always pairs with thymine (A and T)
Guanine always pairs with cytosine (G and C)

Question 9

Give one reason why DNA is a stable molecule

Answer 9

This is because the phosphodiester backbone protects the more chemically reactive organic bases inside the double helix

Question 10

Give another reason why DNA is a stable structure

Answer 10

Hydrogen bonds pink the organic base pairs forming bridges (rungs) between the phosphodiester uprights. There are 3 hydrogen bonds between C and G meaning the higher the proportion the more stable the DNA molecule

Question 11

What is the function of DNA

Answer 11

DNA is the hereditary material responsible for passing genetic information from cell to cell and generation to generation

Question 12

1 way DNA is adapted to its function

Answer 12

It is a very stable structure which normally passes from generation to generation without significant change meaning chances of mutations are very low

Question 13

Another way DNA is adapted to its function (2)

Answer 13

The 2 separate strands are joined only with hydrogen bonds which allow them to separate during DNA replication and protein synthesis

Question 14

DNA molecule adaptation(3)

Answer 14

The phosphate backbone protects the organic bases from mutations

Question 15

DNA adaptations(4)

Answer 15

Base pairings leads to to DNA being able to replicate and to transfer info as mRNA (messenger RNA)