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Biology- Porteous > 3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules > Flashcards

3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules Flashcards

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1
Q

What does DNA stand for?

A

Deoxyribonucleic acid

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2
Q

What does RNA stand for?

A

Ribonucleic acid

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3
Q

What is a nucleotide?

A

A monomer that makes up DNA and RNA

Made up of a pentose sugar, a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base (GCATU)

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4
Q

What are the 4 nitrogenous bases involved in DNA?

A

Adenine
Thymine
Guanine
Cytosine

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5
Q

What is the structure of DNA?

A

Two polynucleotide strands are twisted around each other into a double helix
Joined by hydrogen bonds between bases
Strands run in opposite directions (antiparallel)

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6
Q

Why are polynucleotide strands described as antiparallel?

A

They run in opposite directions

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7
Q

Describe the joining of nucleotides to form polynucleotides.

A

Condensation reaction
Phosphodiester bonds
Between the pentose sugar of one mononuceotide and the phosphate group of another

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8
Q

What are the complementary base pairing rules?

A

Adenine and thymine (2 bonds A=T)

Guanine and cytosine (3 bonds G=–C)

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9
Q

What is the function of DNA?

A

Carries genetic code that makes essential proteins

Makes exact copies of itself so each new cell receives an identical copy of genetic material to the patent cell

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10
Q

What monomers make up DNA?

A

Nucleotides

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11
Q

How can a clear, untwisted double helix diagram be described?

A

Flattened helix

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12
Q

What type of bonds hold complementary base pairings together?

A

Hydrogen (covalent)

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13
Q

If one strand of a DNA molecule contained the base sequence TACGG, what bases would the other strand have?

A

ATGCC

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14
Q

If a DNA sample contained 15% adenine, what percentage of nucleotides would you expect to contain guanine?

A

35%

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15
Q

If a DNA sample contained 23% adenine, what percentage of the nucleotides would you expect to contain thymine?

A

23%

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16
Q

How did Watson and Crick contribute to the structure of DNA?

A

They had original ideas that they paired with others knowledge to develop the idea of he double helix

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17
Q

How did Franklin and Wilkins contribute the the discovery of the structure of DNA?

A

Discovered it was a two stranded helix

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18
Q

How did Chargraff contribute to the discovery of the structure of DNA?

A

Discovered base pairing rules

Found the relative amounts of the 4 basic ingredients of DNA by conspiring different species

19
Q

What is the sugar phosphate backbone?

A

Where the pentose and phosphate group bond to provide strength from strong phosphodiester bonds

20
Q

How does coiling and being a long molecule relate to the function of DNA?

A

Long- store a lot of
genetic information
Coiling- creates a compact molecule that can store a lot of genetic information in a small space

21
Q

How does the sugar-phosphate backbone relate to the function of DNA?

A

Strength from strong phosphodiester bonds

Stable as phosphodiester bonds don’t break until above 86 degrees

22
Q

How does the bases being in sequence relate to DNA’s function?

A

Allows it to carry coded information for making proteins

23
Q

How do complementary base pairing effect the function of DNA?

A

Allows for accurate replication of the molecule

makes mutation rare

24
Q

How do hydrogen bonds in DNA effect it’s function?

A

Allow chains to split easily
Allows for DNA replication
Allows transcription into mRNA
Adds stability as there are so many

25
Q

How does DNAs helical structure affect its function?

A

Protects chemically reactive bases from physical and chemical forces so genetic information isn’t corrupted

26
Q

What two processes does mRNA conduct?

A

Transcription (copying)

Translation (to ribosomes)

27
Q

What makes a nucleotide a purine?

A

If it is two ringed and they makes up the longer bases

28
Q

What do you call the single ringed bases?

A

Pyrimidines

29
Q

Which bases are purine?

A

Adenine

Guanine

30
Q

Which bases are pyrimidines?

A

Cytosine
Thymine
Uracil

31
Q

Which bases make up RNA?

A

Guanine
Cytosine
Adenine
Uracil

32
Q

What does uracil replace in RNA?

A

Thymine

33
Q

What type of reaction forms a nucleotide?

A

Condensation of a phosphate group, pentose sugar and a nitrogenous base

34
Q

What reaction forms a dinucleotide?

A

Condensation reaction between the phosphate of one nucleotide and the sugar of another

35
Q

What animal did Griffiths conduct his experiment into bacteria on?

A

Mice

36
Q

What factors effect the stability of a DNA molecule?

A

Hydrogen bonds between bases (more G-C bonds the better as they have three hydrogen bonds between them)

36
Q

What are the two directions that antiparallel strands run in?

A

5’ to 3’
3’ to 5’
The 5’ carbon has an attached phosphate group
The 3’ carbon has an attached hydroxyl group

37
Q

In what direction are nucleic acids synthesised?

A

5’ to 3’

Because the DNA polymerase can only attach nucleotides to the hydroxyl group of the 3’ carbon molecule

38
Q

What are the two main stages of cell division?

A 
Nuclear division (mitosis/meiosis)
Cytokinesis where the whole cell divides
39
Q

What must happen before a nucleus can divide?

A

DNA replication

So all daughter cells have the genetic information to produce the enzymes and other proteins needed

40
Q

What are the 4 requirements for semi-conservative replication to take place?

A

The 4 bases must be present
Both strands of DNA molecule act as a template for the attachment of these nucleotides
The enzyme DNA polymerase
A source of chemical energy

41
Q

What two enzymes are involved in semi-conservative DNA replication?

A

DNA helicase

DNA polymerase

43
Q

What is the process of semi-conservative replication?

A

DNA helicase breaks hydrogen bonds between base pairs
The double helix separates its two strands and unwinds
Exposed nucleotides act as a template to which complementary free nucleotides bind
DNA polymerase joins the nucleotides in a condensation reaction (making phosphodiester bonds)
Each new DNA molecule contains half the original DNA

Biology- Porteous (14 decks)

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