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IB BIOLOGY > A1.2 Nucleic Acids > Flashcards

A1.2 Nucleic Acids Flashcards

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1
Q

State the two primary functions of nucleic acids

A
  1. Pass genetic information between generations.
  2. Code for protein production.
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2
Q

State the two types of nucleic acids used in cells / two types of nucleotides

why are they important?

A

DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid
RNA: ribonucleic acid

  • they are important to the storage + transfer of genetic information to make proteins
  • both RNA and DNA are polymers of nucleotides, meaning they are formed of long chains of nucleotides
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3
Q

Outline the meaning and implication of DNA being the genetic material of all living organisms

A

Meaning:
- All living organisms use DNA as the genetic material.

Implication:
- The use of the genetic code across all forms of life is evidence of universal common ancestry of life.
- The sequences of DNA in cells can be analyzed and compared to determine evolutionary relationships between organisms.
- The more similar the sequence, the more closely related the organisms.

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4
Q

State why RNA viruses do not falsify the claim that all living things use DNA as the genetic material

A

Some viruses use RNA as their genetic material.

However, because viruses are not made of cells, they are not considered to be living.

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5
Q

DNA is?

A

DNA is the genetic material of all living organisms
(with the exception of viruses!)

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6
Q

List the three components of a nucleotide + explain what a nucleotide is

A

nucleotides are large molecules contained in the nucleus of cells, monomer subunits of nucleic acids

  • A nucleotide has three component parts:
  1. a nitrogenous base
  2. A 5-carbon “pentose sugar” (ribose or deoxyribose)
  3. A phosphate group
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7
Q

what do nucleotides contain?

A
  • carbon
  • hydrogen
  • oxygen
  • nitrogen
  • phosphorus
  • long polymer molecules
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8
Q

Identify and label the carbons of a pentose sugar
(both deoxyribose + ribose)

A

The carbons of the sugar component of the nucleotide are numbers CLOCKWISE, starting from the oxygen in the ring at the top and the phosphate group to the left

  • deoxyribose sugar = in DNA
  • ribose sugar = in RNA
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9
Q

draw the basic structure of a single nucleotide (circle, pentagon, and rectangle)

A
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10
Q

difference between ribose and deoxyribose?

A

Ribose has a hydroxyl group present at the second carbon while carbon of deoxyribose has a hydrogen group

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11
Q

Define “backbone” as related to nucleic acid structure

A

The “backbone” is the alternating “phosphate-sugar- phosphate-sugar-phosphate…” pattern found in a polymer of nucleic acids.

The relative strength of the backbone maintains the nucleotides in their specific sequence.

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12
Q

Explain how nucleotides can connect to form a nucleic acid polymer

A
  • Nucleotides connect by creating covalent bonds between the sugar of one nucleotide and the phosphate group of another nucleotide in a condensation reaction.
  • The 5’ phosphate group on one nucleotide forms a new covalent bond with the 3’ carbon on the pentose of the next nucleotide. Water is created as a byproduct.
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13
Q

State the names of the nitrogenous bases found in DNA

A
  • Adenine (A)
  • Thymine (T)
  • Guanine (G)
  • Cytosine (C)
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14
Q

State the names of the nitrogenous bases found in RNA

A
  • Adenine (A)
  • Uracil (U)
  • Guanine (G)
  • Cytosine (C)
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15
Q

state a similarity and difference between the nitrogenous bases

A

the bases all have DIFFERENT molecular structure

BUT all 5 of the nitrogenous bases contain nitrogen atoms

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16
Q

how are the nitrogenous bases grouped together?

A

based on the number of chemical rings in their structure, they are grouped as either purine or pyrimidine

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17
Q

Outline how the sequence of bases in a nucleic acid serves as a ‘code.’

A

The order in which the different types of nucleotides are arranged in DNA or RNA serves as a code for storing genetic information in all living organisms

A code is a system where one symbol signifies the meaning of another symbol. In the genetic code, a group of three nucleic acid bases signifies for an amino acid.

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18
Q

Define gene

A

A gene is a specific sequence of DNA nucleotides that codes for the making of a specific protein

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19
Q

Describe the condensation reaction that forms a polymer of RNA from RNA nucleotides

A

GENERALLY: A condensation reaction occurs between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the sugar of another nucleotide

  • Repeating the bonding gives a long chain of nucleotides (this forms the “BACKBONE” of the molecule)
  • For RNA, it of course has a “backbone” of phosphate-sugar phosphate-sugar-phosphate…
  • RNA nucleotides connect by creating COVALENT bonds between the ribose sugar of one nucleotide and the phosphate group of another nucleotide
    (a phosphodiester bond)
  • The ends of the backbone are identified as 5’ and 3’
  • 5’ end with a phosphate
  • 3’ end with a ribose

water is created as a byproduct

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20
Q

Identify the monomer and polymer of an RNA molecule

A
  • A condensation reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which two molecules are combined to form a single molecule, with the loss of a water molecule
  • The monomer nucleotides combine to form the polymer RNA chain
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21
Q

Draw a short section of an RNA polymer (using circle, pentagon and rectangle)

A
  • Include at least three RNA nucleotides, drawn as circle (phosphate), hexagon (ribose) and rectangle (base)
  • Be sure the phosphate of one nucleotide is connected to the 2’C of the adjacent nucleotide
22
Q

chemical groups:
- phosphate group
- nitrogenous bases

A
  • Phosphate group = inorganic chemical, negativity charged
  • Nitrogen bases = different nitrogen bases that make up the five different nucleotides
23
Q

what exactly is a phosphodiester bond

A

a bond that is formed when the pentose sugar of one nucleotide forms a covalent bond with the phosphate group on the next nucleotide

These bonds are strong, therefore each polymer is stable

24
Q

describe the structure of RNA
(draw a more detailed diagram of a RNA polymer, like the one on the PPT)

A
  • Polymers of RNA are single-stranded.
  • Condensation reactions between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the pentose sugar of the next
    (Water is released)
25
Q

Describe the structure of (+ know how to draw) a DNA double helix

A
  • DNA is double stranded
  • DNA is formed of a large number of nucleotides
  • Each strand has a
    phosphate-sugar backbone
  • The two strands are held together by hydrogen bonds, between complementary bases
  • The two strands run anti-parallel to each other
26
Q

Outline the complementary base pairing rule, including the type and number of bonds between bases
(for both DNA and RNA)

A

For DNA:

  • Adenine base pairs to Thymine
    (two hydrogen bonds)
  • Guanine base pairs to Cytosine
    (three hydrogen bonds)

For RNA:

  • Adenine base pairs to Uracil
    (two hydrogen bonds)
  • Guanine base pairs to Cytosine
    (three hydrogen bonds)
27
Q

Define antiparallel in relation to DNA structure

A
  • it means that adjacent molecules are oriented parallel to each other but oriented in opposite directions.
  • In DNA, one strand runs 5’ to 3’ and the complementary strand runs 3’ to 5’
28
Q

Compare and contrast the structure of DNA and RNA

A

SIMILARITIES:

  • Both are nucleic acids formed through condensation of nucleotides
  • Both DNA and RNA have a sugar-phosphate backbone

DIFFERNECES:

RNA
- ribose sugar
- single stranded
- nitrogenous bases A, G, C, U
- Complementary paring A-U, C-G
- variety of shapes

DNA
- deoxyribose sugar
- double stranded
- nitrogenous bases A, G, C, T
- Complementary pairing A-T, C-G
- double helix shape

  • you should know how to draw both RNA and DNA
29
Q

Compare and contrast the functions of DNA and RNA

A

DNA:
- Passes heredity information between generations of cells
- Codes for making RNA during transcription

RNA:
- Codes for making proteins during translation

30
Q

Compare and contrast the location of DNA and RNA in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

A

In Eukaryotic Cells:
- Both DNA and RNA are found in the nucleus.
- DNA is also in mitochondria and chloroplasts.
- RNA is also in cytoplasm and is part of ribosomes

In Prokaryotic Cells:
- Both DNA and RNA are in the cytoplasm.
- DNA is clumped in a region called the nucleoid.

31
Q

Explain the role of complementary base pairing in maintaining the DNA sequence during DNA replication

A
  • During DNA replication, the two strands of a “parent” DNA molecule are broken apart
  • Each of these strands serves as a template for the creation of a new “daughter” strand
  • Because of the base pairing rule, the parent template strand will always code for the complementary sequence of nucleotides in the daughter strand (A to T, C to G)
  • The complementary base paring will maintain the sequence of the DNA from generation to generation
32
Q

Outline the role of complementary base pairing in transmitting the genetic code in TRANSCRIPTION

A
  • During transcription, one of the the two strands of a DNA molecule is used as a template for the creation of an RNA strand.
  • Because of the base pairing rule, the DNA template strand will always code for the complementary sequence of RNA nucleotides in the (A to U, C to G)
  • The complementary base paring will maintain the sequence of the gene as mRNA is translated into protein
33
Q

Outline the role of complementary base pairing in transmitting the genetic code in TRANSLATION

A
  • During translation, an RNA strand is used as a template for the creation of a polypeptide
  • Because of the base pairing rule, the mRNA codon will only bind with the complementary tRNA anticodon (A to U, C to G)
  • The complementary base paring ensures the correct amino acid are brought in the correct sequence to the ribosome
34
Q

what is transcription?

A

Transcription = converting genetic code to mRNA

35
Q

what is translation?

A

Translation = using mRNA to form proteins

36
Q

what is mRNA?

A
  • it is a type of nucleic acid
  • it is messenger RNA that is made as a strand that is complimentary to one strand of the DNA molecule (the template strand)
  • it is therefore a copy of the other DNA strand as it contains the opposite bases plus Uracil
37
Q

what is rRNA?

A
  • it is a type of nucleic acid
  • rRNA is ribosomal RNA found in ribosomes
  • it decodes mRNA into amino acids
38
Q

what is tRNA?

A
  • it is a type of nucleic acid
  • it is transfer RNA that carries amino acids to the ribosomes where they are bonded together to form polypeptides
39
Q

what is ATP?

A
  • it is a type of nucleic acid
  • ATP = Adenosine triphosphate
  • it is a single nucleotide which is used in cells as a source of chemical energy
40
Q

Outline why there is a limitless diversity of DNA base sequences

A

There are four nitrogenous bases in DNA (A, T, C and G)

These 4 bases are components of nucleotides that can form a DNA molecule in any order and of any length

The chances of two strands of DNA being identical due to chance is almost zero

SO there is a limitless diversity of DNA base sequences

41
Q

Define universal in relation to the genetic code

A
  • Universal means that the characteristic is shared by all life
  • A universal generic code means that all life uses essentially the same code when translating information stored in genes into a polypeptide
42
Q

Outline why conservation of the genetic code across all forms of life is evidence of common ancestry

A
  • Using inductive reasoning, it can be concluded that the use of the same genetic code across all forms of life indicates that all organisms inherited the use of the code from a common ancestor
  • The alternative, that all forms of life independently developed use of the same genetic code, is an illogical hypothesis
43
Q

On a single nucleotide, which carbon is always attached to a phosphate?

A

Carbon 5

44
Q

On a single nucleotide, which carbon is always attached to a nitrogenous base?

A

Carbon 1

45
Q

How many water molecules would be released if 12 molecules of DNA were joined together via condensation reactions?

A

11 molecules of water would be released

(It wouldn’t be 12 as just one molecule is released to join the first two DNA nucleotides)

46
Q

which bases are purines and pyrimidines?

A

Purines = A and G
Pyrimidines = C, T, and U

47
Q

name the bond that holds nucleotides together

A

phosphodiester bond

48
Q
A
49
Q
A
50
Q

Each three bases codes for ___?

A

Each three bases codes for one amino acid: triplet codon

51
Q

the genetic code?

A
  • There are four bases
  • Codons made of 3 bases
  • 64 different codons
  • There are 20 different amino acids (as some amino acids have more than one codon)
  • The genetic code explains how each base combinations makes the different amino acids
52
Q

answer the question (no need to memorize the chart)

A

IB BIOLOGY (8 decks)

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