A1.2 Nucleic Acids Flashcards
what are the 4 major types of biological molecules?
Nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates and proteins
What are the primary functions of nucleic acids?
-Pass information between generations.
-Code for protein production.
what are the two types of nucleic acids in the cell
-DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid
-RNA - ribonucleic acid
outline the meaning and implication of DNA being the genetic material for all living organisms
-Inheritance: DNA replicates during cell division, ensuring genetic information is passed to the next generation.
-Protein Synthesis: DNA guides the synthesis of RNA and proteins, crucial for cellular functions.
-Evolution: DNA mutations drive diversity and adaptation, aiding in the study of evolutionary relationships.
Why do RNA viruses do not have DNA as their genetic material
Some viruses use RNA as their genetic material. However, because viruses are not made of cells, they are not considered to be living
what reaction do nucleotides go through to form nucleic acids
condensation reactions
What are the 3 components of a nucleotide?
phosphate group,
nitrogenous base,
sugar
Draw the Structure of a Nucleotide (using a circle, pentagon, and rectangle) and label
Refer to document
figure 1
out of the three components of a nucleotide, which one is negatively charged
phosphate group
Identify and label the carbons of a pentose sugar
C1: Attached to the ring oxygen, the anomeric carbon.
C2: Connected to a hydroxyl group.
C3: Next in the chain.
C4: Continuing the chain.
C5: Terminal carbon.
(if needed refer to figure 2)
The sugars in DNA and RNA are different, what is different about it
The difference between ribose and deoxyribose is off carbon-2!
-DNA has a H
-RNA has an OH
define “backbone” as related to nucleic acid structure
DNA and RNA have a “backbone” of phosphate-sugar- phosphate-sugar-phosphate…
The ends of the backbone are identified as 5’ and 3’ (A1.2.11*).
5’ end with a phosphate
3’ end with a pentose.
(REFER TO FIGURE 3 IF NEEDED)
Explain how nucleotides connect to form a nucleic acid polymer
Nucleotides connect through condensation reactions (a loss in a water molecule) , forming a sugar-phosphate backbone that creates nucleic acid polymers, essential for genetic information
What are the names of the nitrogenous bases found in DNA and RNA
Thymine (T)
Adenine (A)
Cytosine (C)
Guanine (G)
Uracil (U)
Similarity and difference between the nitrogenous bases
They each have a different structure but all contain nitrogen atoms
What bases are purines?
Guanine and Adenine
What bases are pyrimidines?
Cytosine, guanine, uracil and thymine
how does the sequence of bases serve as a ‘code’
A gene is a specific sequence of nitrogenous bases in DNA nucleotides that codes for the making of a protein.
define gene
DNA that contains the instructions for producing a specific protein or set of proteins
What is the condensation reaction that forms a polymer of RNA from RNA nucleotides?
-The RNA backbone forms when nucleotides combine through a condensation reaction, which loses a water molecule.
-This chemical reaction joins two molecules to create a single RNA polymer chain from monomer nucleotides.
Identify the monomer and polymer of an RNA molecule
The monomer nucleotides combine to form the polymer RNA chain.
Draw a short section of an RNA polymer
refer to figure 1
What is the structure of a DNA double helix?
In DNA, two backbones will hydrogen bond together to create a double helix.
(refer to figure 4)
What is the complementary base paring rule and the number of bonds between them
ADENINE pairs with THYMINE with two hydrogen bonds
GUANINE pairs with CYTOSINE with three hydrogen bonds
what is the Antiparallel in DNA
The two different strands of the DNA double helix run in opposite directions. At each end of the double helix, one strand is 5’ and the other is 3’.
What bonds the nitrogenous bases
hydrogen bonds
Draw a diagram of DNA structure as two antiparallel strands
Refer to figure 5
similarities and differences in DNA and RNA structure
-Both RNA and DNA are polymers of nucleotides with a sugar–
phosphate backbone.
-the type of pentose sugar within the nucleotide is different
-number of polymer strands are different aswell
-nitrogenous bases used in the nucleotide.
similarities and differences in the function of the molecule. (DNA and RNA)
DNA:
-Passes heredity information between generations of cells
-Codes for making RNA during transcription
RNA:
- Codes for making proteins during translation
-mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA are the three main types of RNA involved in protein synthesis
what is the differences between DNA and RNA is the where in the cell the molecules are located in a Eukaryotic Cell.
-Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA).
-All types of RNA are made in the nucleus during transcription and then transported out of the nuclear pores to the cytoplasm for translation.
What is the difference between DNA and RNA is the where in the cell the molecules are located in a Prokaryotic Cell.
-RNA in prokaryotes is found in the cytoplasm
-DNA in prokaryotes is contained in a central area of the cell called the nucleoid, which is not surrounded by a nuclear membrane.
–> Many prokaryotes also carry small, circular DNA molecules called plasmids.
State the complementarity is based on hydrogen bonding
-A-T (adenine-thymine) in DNA, or A-U (adenine-uracil) in RNA: 2 hydrogen bonds.
-C-G (cytosine-guanine): 3 hydrogen bonds.
-These bonds stabilize the structure of DNA and RNA by linking the complementary strands together.
Sketch the difference between ribose and deoxyribose
refer to figure 6
Why. is there a limitless diversity of DNA base sequences
These bases can be in any order in a DNA strand of any length. Therefore, in a DNA strand of n base pairs long, the are 4n possible sequences.
Define universal in relation to the genetic code
The genetic code is universal, which means that with just a few variations, all living organisms use this same genetic code. Even viruses use this same code
