Biological Molecules Nucleic Acids - 3.1.5.1 Structure of DNA and RNA Flashcards
DNA is made from which monomer?
Mononucleotides (or just nucleotides)
Name the 3 components of a nucleotide
Phosphate group
Pentose sugar
Organic base (containing nitrogen)
In DNA, which base complements guanine?
cytosine
In RNA, which base complements adenine?
uracil
In DNA, which base complements thymine?
adenine
In RNA, which base complements guanine?
cytosine
In DNA, which base complements cytosine?
guanine
In RNA, which base complements uracil?
adenine
What shape does a molecule of DNA take?
A double helix
In DNA, which base complements adenine?
thymine
DNA is a stable molecule because…
- The phosphodiester backbone protects the chemically reactive base pairs.
- C-G base pairs contain 3 hydrogen bonds, so the more C-G base pairs in a DNA molecule the more stable it is.
- Interactive forces between base pairs add further stability (‘base stacking’)
How many hydrogen bonds are formed between Cytosine and Guanine in a DNA molecule?
3
Name the bond that forms between the 2 nucleotides of a dinucleotide.
Phosphodiester bond
What is the function of RNA?
To transfer genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes.
How is DNA adapted to carry out its function as a means of passing genetic information from generation to generation?
- Very stable - rarely mutates
- Hydrogen bonds between strands easy to separate for replication and protein synthesis.
- Very long - carries a lot of genetic information.
- Base pairs protected from chemical/physical forces by phosphodiester backbone.