A1.2 (Nucleic Acids) Flashcards

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1
Q

Nucleic Acid

A

Polymers of nucleotides such as DNA and RNA

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2
Q

DNA

A

Deoxyribonucleic acid: Molecule that carries genetic information for development and functioning of an organism

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3
Q

RNA

A

Ribonucleic acid: A type of nucleic acid that has riobose sugar in its structure and is used by viruses to replicate

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4
Q

How was DNA discovered

A

Friedrich Miescher performed experiments with white bloodcells which led to DNA extraction as the membrane had to be disintegrated first. this was based on the solubility of DNA in certain substances

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5
Q

Components of as nucleotide

A

pentose sugar, nitrogenous base, phosphate group

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6
Q

How does sugar phosphate bonding work

A

nucleotides link together through a covalent bond to form the single strands of DNA/RNA
1. Bond betwen phosphate group and hydroxylgroup attached to 3C
2. releases one molecule of water
3. continuous chain
4. forms strong sugar phosphate backbone
5. forms 2 ends: 3C hydroxyl group and 5C phosphate group

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7
Q

Pure As Gold

A

Purines: Adenine, Guanine
Nitrogenous bases with two rings

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8
Q

Cut The Pie

A

Pyrimidines: Cytosine, Thymine, Uracil
Nitrogenous bases with only one ring

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9
Q

features of RNA

A
  • single stranded
    *has uracil instead of thymine
  • has AGUC as nitrogenous bases
  • 2C has an OH
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10
Q

Features of DNA

A
  • double stranded
  • strands are connected by hydrogen bonds
  • has AGTC as nitrogenous bases
  • 2C has an H
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11
Q

structure of DNA explained

A

two polynucleotide chains aree coiled around the same axis in which the bases inside are supported by the sugar phosphate backbone

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12
Q

role of complementary base pairing

A
  • cell division
  • gene expression
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13
Q

how does complemetary base pairing affect cell division

A

dna replicates: CBP maintains base sequnece during copying as it uses 1 strand as template to create a new one (semi conservative)

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14
Q

how does complementary base pairing affect gene expression

A

Complemetary base pairing ensures that the same protein is produced as the same bases = same code = same protein

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15
Q

Genetic Code

A

Instructions in a gene in the form of a base sequence that become translated into a functional protein

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16
Q

replication

A

Copying of DNA to make a new DNA molecule

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17
Q

Translation

A

Process in which the transcribed DNA is translataed by the ribosomes to produce proteins

18
Q

Transcription

A

process in which DNA is used as a template to produce RNA

19
Q

DNA Base sequences

Processes that happen in the 5’ to 3’ direction

A

Replication, Translation, Transcription

20
Q

Example of specific enzyme which replicates DNA in the 5’ to 3’ direction

A

DNA Polymerase

21
Q

How does pairing purines and pyrimidines enable DNA stabilisation

A

As the length stays consistent (around 2nm diameter) the bond specificy is higher resulting
+ hydrogen bonds between bases
= more stable & strong bond

22
Q

Eukaryotic

A

A group of organisms whose cells typically contain a nucleus & membrane bound organelles

23
Q

Prokaryotic

A

A group of organisms whose cells do not contain a nucleus or membrane bound orgnisms

24
Q

Histones

A

Proteins around which DNA strands are wrapped

25
Q

nucleosomes

A

structural unit of eukaryotic chromatin in which DNA is double wrapped around 8 histone and H1proteins
-> helps to supercoil and compact DNA

26
Q

Relationship between nucleosomes and chromosomes

A

Chromosome>chromatin fibre>Nucleosome>double helix

27
Q

Hershey Chase Experiment

A

proved that DNA, not protein, makes up the genetic material

28
Q

How does the Hershey Chase Experiment work

A
  • used a T2 bacteriophage which injects DNA into a bacterial cell while its protein stays on the outside
  • used radioactove phosphorus and sulfur to label the DNA and the protein viruses
  • as the DNA was transferred the next generation all contained radioactive phosphor, proving that uit was DNA that was being transferred
29
Q

Chargaffs Data

A

proved that DNA is double stranded helix

30
Q

How was chargaffs data collected

A

he analysed samples of DNA using paper chromotography and discovered that the relative concentrations of the bases were equal
=> helped explain how DNA can be replicated accurately due to complementary base pairing

31
Q

hershey chase experiment in short

A

radioactive phosphorus found in pellet (bacterial sediment)

32
Q

Direction of DNA synthesis

A

5 -> 3

33
Q

Solubility of lipids in water vs sugars

A

more soluble in sugars than water

34
Q

All DNA/RNA processes in 5-> 3

A
  • replication
  • translation
  • transcription
35
Q

DNA processes in 3 -> 5 direction

A
  • DNA polymerisation (synthesizes DNA during DNA replication)

-> can only attach to ‘3 on -OH molecule

36
Q

lengths of Dna and its components

A
  • Length of DNA: 2m
  • Length of a gene:3.4nm
  • Length between two base pairs: 0.34nm
  • diameter of coil: 2nm
37
Q

What stabilises the DNA molecule

A
  • bond specificity of complementary bases
  • hydrogne bonds between bases
38
Q

Significance of the universal genetic code

A
  • proves common ancestory
  • universally allows transfer of genetic information across organisms (contributes to advancements in. biotechnology genetic engeneering)
39
Q

genome

A

collection of all the genetic information within an organism or a cell

40
Q

Key words for DNA questions

A
  • double stranded double helix
  • anti parallel bonding
  • hydrogen bonding between bases
  • complmentary base pairing
  • purine- pyrimidine bonding
  • polymer
  • sugar phosphate backbone
41
Q

reading genetic code

A
  • look at direction = has to be 5 to 3
  • translate from DNA to mRNA = change all T’s to U’s
  • read code and match to AA