3.1.5 - 3.1.8 DNA (structure and replication), ATP, water, inorganic molecules i’m Flashcards
what is our genetic code?
universal, same in all living organisms and cells (prokaryotes and eukaryotes), composed of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
where is DNA found?
our nucleus contains the genetic material/our DNA, contained in large molecules called chromosomes, associated with proteins called histones in eukaryotes
what are chromosomes?
23 pairs of chromosomes in every body cell but not gametes (sex cells), chromosomes are made of genes, short sections of DNA that code for one polypeptide or functional RNA
what is the structure of chromosomes?
DNA molecule, combined with histones (proteins), DNA histone complex is coiled, coils fold to form loops, loops coil and pack together to form the chromosomes
what makes up the nucleus?
DNA, combined with histones (proteins), linear chromosomes, nucleus
what are genes?
lengths of DNA that code for a certain protein
how many chromosomes are in eukaryotes?
46 (except gametes)
what is the polymer DNA made up of?
monomers linked together called nucleotides via phosphodiester bonds in condensation reactions
what does each nucleotide consist of?
phosphate group, pentose sugar (deoxyribose), nitrogenous base
what is the A base?
Adenine
What is the T base?
Thymine
what is the G base?
Guanine
what is the C base?
Cytosine
what are the two rules that Chargaff discovered?
the number of cytosine always equals the number of guanine, the number of A,T,G and C present differs in species
what did Crick and Watson discover?
using UV images deduced the double helix structured G is base bared with C by 3 hydrogen bonds, A is paired with T by 2 hydrogen bonds
describe the structure of DNA including that of nucleotides (6 marks)
DNA is a double helix structure made up from two polynucleotide chains of monomers. These monomers are called nucleotides, nucleotides have three main components: a sugar phosphate backbone, and nitrogenous base, and a deoxyribose sugar.The four bases are adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine which have complimentary base pairings of G+C and A+T. These bases are joined by hydrogen bonds whereas nucleotides are joined by phosphodiester bonds
compare and contrast the structure of DNA in eukaryotes and prokaryotes (5 marks)
in eukaryotic cells DNA is combined with proteins called histones but not in prokaryotic cells, the DNA in eukaryotes makes up linear chromosomes inside the nucleus where as in prokaryotes DNA is free floating and has a circular shape rather than being inside nucleus this is because prokaryotes are a lot smaller and have shorter DNA molecules, DNA in prokaryotes is also a lot simpler and contains a lot less junk DNA (introns) than eukaryotes , all eukaryote except gametes contain 46 chromosomes but prokaryotes do not
what is RNA?
ribonucleic acid, polymer of nucleotides, made up of phosphate, nitrogenous based (U,A,C,G), pentose sugar (ribose), and is a shorter molecule/single stranded
what is the sugar present in RNA?
ribose
what is the structure of rna?
single stranded
what are the bases in RNA?
AUCG
what is the length of RNA?
short
what is the base pairing in RNA?
no base pairing, cannot predict percentage of other bases for percentage of one base
what does mRNA stand for?
messenger RNA
what does rRNA stand for?
ribosomal RNA
what does tRNA stand for?
transfer RNA
what is the function of mRNA?
copies of the DNA sequence which leaves the nucleus through membrane pores and give instructions to the ribosomes e.g. to make protein
what is the function of rRNA?
combines with protein to make up the ribosome structure
what is the function of tRNA?
carries specific amino acids during the process of protein synthesis (called translation)
what is DNA replication vital for?
growth, development/specialisation, reproduction
what is conservative replication?
one dna molecule contains both parental DNA strands, the other molecule only contains newly synthesised DNA