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AS BIOLOGY > 5 - Nucleic Acids > Flashcards

5 - Nucleic Acids Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a solute?

A

Something that can dissolve in water

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2
Q

What has the highest water potential?

A

Pure water - OkPa

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3
Q

Suggest problems in performing any investigation with blood

A

It can spread infection and clots out of the body

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4
Q

Why would a single base deletion produce a non-functional protein?

A

~ It would change the triplets or cause a chain shift forming a different chain
~ It would affect the arranged of disulphide, ionic etc bonds so the tertiary structure would be affected

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5
Q

Why is the genetic code described as being universal?

A

Because the triplet code is the same in every organism

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6
Q

What is the process that removes base sequences from pre-mRNA to form mRNA?

A

Splicing

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7
Q

Why is the percentage composition of bases in DNA equal between complementary bases?

A

Because DNA is a double stranded molecule

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8
Q

What 2 variables need to be controlled in the centrifugation process in the Meselson & Stahl experiment?

A

~ Speed of rotation

~ Time in machine

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9
Q

What is meant by the term semi conservative replication?

A

When DNA replicates and one strand of the original DNA is conserved and acts as a template and the other strand is newly synthesised

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10
Q

What part of the DNA molecule contained the N15?

A

The nitrogenous base

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11
Q

Why was E.coli used as an organism in Meselson & Stahl’s experiment?

A

~ They undergo cell division very quickly
~ They’re single cellular
~ It is easy to culture bacteria

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12
Q

Describe how energy is released from ATP

A

~ The hydrolysis reaction from ATP produces ADP + an inorganic phosphate and requires ATPase
~ Energy stored between the 2nd and 3rd phosphate is released when the hydrogen bond between them breaks
~ 30.6kJ of energy is released

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13
Q

What is thymine replaced for in RNA?

A

Uracil

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14
Q

What bases are purines?

A

Guanine, adenine

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15
Q

What bases are pyrimidines?

A

Cytosine, thymine / uracil

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16
Q

What is the structure of messenger RNA? (mRNA)

A

Single stranded molecule formed into a helix

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17
Q

What is the function of messenger RNA? (mRNA)

A

~ Manufactured in nucleus

~ Carries the genetic code from the DNA in the nucleus to the ribosome

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18
Q

What is the structure of ribosomal RNA? (rRNA)

A

~ Long, large complex single stranded molecule

~ Synthesised in nucleolus

19
Q

What is the function of ribosomal RNA? (rRNA)

A

~ Ribosomes are made up of rRNA and protein

20
Q

What is the structure of transfer RNA? (tRNA)

A

~ Single stranded molecule
~ Forms clover shape
~ One end has bases CCA where the amino acid attaches
~ At the opposite end there is a series of 3 bases called the anticodon

21
Q

What is the function of transfer RNA? (tRNA)

A

~ tRNA molecules bring amino acids to the ribosome so that polypeptides can be synthesised

22
Q

What are some differences between DNA and RNA?

A

~ DNA contains thymine, RNA contains uracil
~ DNA contains deoxyribose, RNA contains ribose
~ DNA is double stranded, RNA is single stranded
~ DNA is a long molecule, RNA is a short molecule

23
Q

What is the function of DNA?

A

DNA carries the code for the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain

24
Q

What is the monomer nucleotide?

A

One DNA molecule made from a phosphate, pentose sugar (deoxyribose) and organic nitrogenous base (A/T/G/C)

25
Q

How many bonds form between adenine and thymine?

A

2 hydrogen bonds

26
Q

How many bonds form between cytosine and guanine?

A

3 hydrogen bonds

27
Q

What does the sugar phosphate backbone in DNA do?

A

Protects the bases / genetic code

28
Q

Where do phosphodiester bonds form in DNA?

A

Between each nucleotide monomer to form a double helix

29
Q

What is the DNA polymer called?

A

Polynucleotide

30
Q

Why is ATP referred to as the universal energy currency of the cell?

A

~ Because it is used by all living organisms in every cell
~ It provides the energy for nearly all biochemical reactions in the cell
~ It’s used to carry energy from energy-releasing reactions to energy-consuming reactions (it is involved when energy changes happen)

31
Q

ATP provides energy for what cellular activities?

A

~ Active transport - to allow molecules to move against conic gradients
~ Metabolic processes - to synthesise large complex molecules from smaller ones e.g protein synthesis
~ Muscle contraction
~ Nerve transmission
~ Secretion - the packaging and transport of secretory products into vesicles in cells

32
Q

The condensation reaction of ADP + Pi to ATP is what type of reaction?

A

Endergonic reaction as it requires 30.6KJ of energy

33
Q

The hydrolysis reaction of ATP to ADP + Pi is what type of reaction?

A

Exergonic reaction as it releases 30.6KJ of energy

34
Q

What is a gene?

A

A sequence of nucleotide bases found in DNA that codes for one (or more) polypeptide

35
Q

What are some polypeptides that have structural roles?

A

Keratin, collagen

36
Q

What are some polypeptides that have metabolic roles?

A

Enzymes, antibodies, haemoglobin

37
Q

Why is the genetic code a triplet code?

A

Because there are 20 amino acids and with a double code there would only be 16 combinations but with a triplet code there are 64 combinations

38
Q

How does DNA replicate?

A

~ DNA helicase breaks the hydrogen bonds between the complementary base pairs
~ DNA polymerase joins to both template strands and free complementary nucleotides are attached with hydrogen bonds
~ The new complementary nucleotides are joined by condensation reactions down the sugar phosphate backbone by phosphodiester bonds
~ 2 new DNA molecules are produced, each with 1 conserved strand and 1 newly synthesised strand

39
Q

What does ATP stand for?

A

Adenosine triphosphate

40
Q

What is an exergonic reaction?

A

A reaction which releases energy (e.g hydrolysis of ATP to ADP + Pi)

41
Q

What is an endergonic reaction?

A

A reaction that requires an energy input (e.g ATP synthesis)

42
Q

What is phosphorylation?

A

The addition of phosphate to ADP

43
Q

What are advantages of having ATP as a supplier of energy compared to glucose?

A

~ hydrolysis of ATP is 1 reaction that releases energy immediately / breakdown of glucose involves many intermediates and takes longer for energy to be released
~ only one enzyme is needed to release energy from ATP / many needed to release energy from glucose
~ ATP releases energy in small amounts / glucose, large amounts all at one
~ ATP provides a common source of energy for many different chemical reactions, increasing efficiency and control by the cell

AS BIOLOGY (13 decks)

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