B2. Nucleic Acids (DONE) Flashcards
What does RNA and DNA stand for, what are their monomers?
Ribonucleic acid, Deoxyribonucleic; Polynucleotides; Monomers are nucleotides
What is the structure of a nucleotide?
Phosphate group (C4 link) ; Pentose sugar; Nitrogenous base (C1 link)
What are the DNA and RNA bases?
Dna, Adenine -Thymine, Cytosine - Guanine ; RNA, Adenine - Uracil, Cytosine - Guanine
How do nucleotides bond?
Phosphodiester bond; Condensation reaction between Phosphate group and pentose sugar (C3)
Who created the DNA modern model?
James Watson; Francis Crick
How is DNA adapted for its functions?
Thermally stable, rare mutations between genes; Rigid phosphodiester backbone protects base pairs; Large molecule, carry lots of information; Hydrogen bonds between base pairs easily split by enzymes to allow replication
What are the stages of semiconservative DNA replication?
Occurs in S phase of interphase; Helicase unwinds dna helix by breaking hydrogen bonds between base pairs; Polynucleotide DNA strand acts as template; New strand formed from free nucleotides attracted to exposed DNA bases by base pairing; Nucleotides joined by DNA polymerase forming phosphodiester bonds;
What is ATP?
Adenosine Triphosphate; Unit of energy released as a product of respiration
What is the structure of ATP?
Adenine, ribose, 3 phosphate groups
How does ATP release energy?
Bonds between phosphate groups are unstable, low activation energy; Hydrolysis reaction catalysed by ATP hydrolase, Adenosine diphosphate, inorganic sulfur formed and energy; Bond breaks, lots of energy released
How is ATP synthesised when needed?
Adenosine Diphosphate combined w/ inorganic phosphate by ATP synthase in a condensation reaction
What are the ionic characteristics of water?
Overall no charge; slight negative charge on O, slight positive charges on H; Polar molecule, has dipoles
What are the general characteristics of water?
High specific heat capacity; High surface tension and cohesion, water molecules stick together due to their hydrogen bonding; High latent heat of vaporisation; Good solvent, polarity of water
How is water a good coolant?
High latent heat of vaporisation; Lots of thermal energy needed to break hydrogen bonds, turning water from liquid to gas;
How is water good at keeping optimal temperature in cells?
High latent heat capacity; Many hydrogen bonds, lots of energy required to build and create these bonds, temperature doesn’t fluctuate as a result
