A1.2- nucleic acids

Question 1

what is DNA?

Answer 1

the genetic material of all living things. This genetic information determines how an organism function.

Question 2

how do we decide if something is living?

Answer 2

Metabolism
Reproduction
Homeostasis
Growth
Response
Excretion
Nutrition

Question 3

what is metabolism?

Answer 3

the maintenance of the speed of chemical reactions in the body.

Question 4

what is reproduction?

Answer 4

the ability to produce offspring.

Question 5

what is homeostasis?

Answer 5

maintaining a stable internal environment.

Question 6

what is growth?

Answer 6

permeant increase of size and / or mass.

Question 7

what is response?

Answer 7

detection of changes or external and internal environments.

Question 8

what is excretion?

Answer 8

getting rid of toxins

Question 9

what is nutrition?

Answer 9

the method of obtaining the right things for metabolism and growth.

Question 10

why is DNA a universal code?

Answer 10

All living things decode DNA in the same way. Thus, DNA is a universal code.

Question 11

what does DNA do?

Answer 11

It is coded for making proteins. DNA indirectly controls the metabolism as it controls the type of enzymes that can catalyze specific reactions within the body.

Question 12

are viruses living organisms?

Answer 12

Viruses use RNA (ribonucleic acid) as their genetic code, but many people believe that viruses are not living. They invade body cells and use the cell’s structure to put its own genetic material into by reproducing and building the main parts and carry out the vital processes that allow the virus to function.

Question 13

what does DNA and RNA stand for ?

Answer 13

DNA= deoxyribonucleic acid. RNA= ribonucleic acid.

Question 14

what type of molecule are nucleic acids?

Answer 14

polymers

Question 15

what type of molecule is a nucleotide ?

Answer 15

monomer

Question 16

what is a nucleotide a monomer?

Answer 16

because they are single molecules that can be bonded and formed into long chains ( polymers)

Question 17

what are nucleotides composed of ?

Answer 17

a pentose sugar , a nitrogenous base and a phosphate.

Question 18

how are nucleotides held together ?

Answer 18

by covalent bonds.

Question 19

what does sugar-phosphate bonding do?

Answer 19

forms a sugar phosphate’ backbone’. it helps keep the nucleotide sequence of DNA which maintains the integrity of the code.

Question 20

why does DNA have 2 phosphate backbones ?

Answer 20

DNA has 2 phosphate backbones because it is made of 2 strands in a double helix shape. This protects the code in the center of the molecule.

Question 21

what are the three types of Ribonucleic acid?

Answer 21

MRNA( messenger)
TRNA( transfer)
RRNA(ribosomal)

Question 22

what are the 4 types of nitrogenous base in DNA?

Answer 22

adenine , thymine, guanine and cytosine

Question 23

what are the 4 types of nitrogenous base in RNA?

Answer 23

adenine, guanine, cytosine and uracil

Question 24

what does the sequence of nitrogenous bases code for?

Answer 24

they code for a specific protein , the order of bases dictates the type of protein produced

Question 25

why are the bases described as triplet code?

Answer 25

each group of three bases codes for a specific amino acid.

Question 26

how is RNA formed?

Answer 26

through a condensation reaction of nuclear monomers