Breadth Flashcards
2016
A DNA molecule contains 2 polynucleotide chains
Describe how these two chains are held together
There are phosphodiester bonds in the phosphate backbone. Hydrogen bonding occurs between bases. Nitrogenous bases are split into two categories- purine and pyrimidine which bond to each other e.g. AT and CG. There are 2 hydrogen bonds between AT and 3 between CG.
Explain one advantage and disadvantage of lack of nuclei to mammalian enthrocytes
An advantage is that there is more space for Hb
A disadvantage is that the lack of mitochondria means they respire anaerobically
Explain why enthrocytes do not make use of the oxygen that they are transporting
Oxygen is bound to Hb whilst being transported and the lack of mitochondria means they respire anaerobically
A nucleotide is a molecule that consists of what (3)
- A 5-carbon sugar
- A phosphate group
- A nitrogenous base
What are the phosphate and nitrogenous base joined to pentose (5-carbon) sugar by?
The phosphate group is joined to C5 and the nitrogenous base is joined to C1
These are joined together by a covalent phosphodiester bond which are formed by a condensation reaction and broken down by hydrolysis
Name the four nitrogenous bases
Adenine
Thymine
Guanine
Cytosine
Adenine and guanine are both example of what?
PURINES
Thymine and Cytosine are both examples of what?
Pyrimidines
What type of bond and how many bonds are there between AT?
2 hydrogen bonds
What type of bond and how many bonds are there between CG?
3 hydrogen bonds
What are two differences between an RNA molecule and a DNA molecule?
- RNA is usually stranded
* In RNA, adenine binds to uracil instead of thymine
Describe the stages of DNA replication (4)
- The first stage of DNA replication is UNWINDING of DNA which is catalysed by enzyme GYRASE
- Next, the 2 strands are UNZIPPED thanks to enzyme HELICASE which breaks the hydrogen bonds holding the bases together
- New strands of DNA are SYNTHESISED by DNA polymerase
- In this stage, free nucleotides are joined to their complementary bases and each other by forming HYDROGEN bonds and PHOSPHODIESTER bonds.
- They’re added in the 5’ to 3’ directional
What enzyme catalysed the unwinding of DNA (1 mark)
ENZYME GYRASE
What enzyme catalyses the unzipping of DNA (1 mark)
DNA HELICASE
What enzyme synthesised new strands of DNA during replication (1)
DNA POLYMERASE
What is the number of DNA nucleotide bases that code for an amino acid and why (3)
It’s 3 because the information in genes is read in 3’s
Furthermore, TAC, GAT, and TTG are referred to as a codon
There is a maximum of 64 different base combinations in DNA that could code for each amino acid.
How are these combinations calculated and why (2)
The combination are calculated by 4 to the power of 3 because codons are 3 letter genetic words e.g. TTG and the language of genes use for letters (nitrogenous bases)
Why is DNA replication considered to be semi-conservative (1)
Because there is one strand from original DNA and one newly formed strand
What nucleotide bases are both common to DNA and RNA?
A C Got
How is a nucleotide bass sequence in a gene used to synthesise a polypeptide (6)
- In transcription, DNA is transcribed to mRNA
- whereby free RNA nucleotides line up by complimentary base-pairing
- to one DNA strand e.g. AT, CG, and AU
- this reaction is catalysed by RNA polymerase
What does a gene code for (1)
A gene is a section of DNA that codes for the production of a polypeptide
What is the name of the molecule that copies a gene and carries the information to a ribosome (1)
RNA
When a colour is added to a suspension of yeast cells why won’t some cells stain at low temperature (1)
Because at low temperature, the membrane structure is still in tact/ less fluid and so the cell membrane is impermeable or isn’t respiring so no ATP can take up the stain
Why do stain cells lose their colour at exceedingly high temperatures (1)
At temperatures exceeding optimum level, the membrane structure becomes damaged and so the stain can diffuse out of the cell
Name the effects of high temperature on membrane structure (4)
- Membrane structure is damaged
- Phospholipid bilayer is more fluid
- Proteins in the membrane become denatured
- Membrane becomes more permeable
What evidence shows yeast cells take up pigment via active transport (2)
- At low temperature, all stain remains in cell (state figures)
- Whereas at high temperatures, the stain is not held in the cell because the high temperature denatures the enzymes in the cell meaning no ATP can be generated for active transport
Describe the role glycoproteins play in the membrane structure (4)
1) Glycoproteins in the membrane act as antigens
2) and are involved in the recognition of cells being foreign or self
3) and also enables cell signalling to occur whereby communication between cells is maintained
4) It further acts as a receptor/binding site for hormones
What is the function of cholesterol in the membrane structure (1)
Cholesterol stabilises the membrane’s stability by giving mechanical support
What function do protein channels have in the membrane structure (1)
Protein channels allow communication across the membrane
Describe cell signalling (2)
Cell signalling refers to communication between cells whereby cell recognition of foreign or self matter occurs and cells work together to coordinate a response
Explain how glycoproteins act as receptors (3)
The tertiary structure of the receptor is specific and is only complementary to the shape of the trigger molecule and so the trigger molecule binds to the receptor
Describe water potential (3)
Water potential refers to water moving out of a cell via osmosis because the cell has a higher water potential than its surrounding solution and so water moves down the water potential gradient from high to low water potential
Describe the effect high temperature has on a yeast cell’s membrane (4)
Phospholipids have more kinetic energy and so the phospholipids move around more which this creates gaps in the membrane as so the bilayer becomes more fluid and proteins denature at temperatures exceeding optimum
Describe the structure of a phospholipid bilayer (4)
Phospholipid bilayer has a hydrophilic region facing outwards and a hydrophobic region facing onwards
Glycoproteins and glycolipids stick out of the bilayer and cholesterol is between phospholipids
State two functions of cell membranes within cells (2)
1) They separate the contents of organelles from the cytoplasm
2) They control what substances enter or leave an organelle
3) They provide a surface for attachment of ribosomes
Outline how vesicles are moved from one organelle to another (2)
1) Cytoskeleton provide pathways for movement and the vesicles move along microtubules
Suggest how proteins ensure that a vesicles is transported to the correct target organelle (2)
A receptor is only found on a target organelle and a protein has a specific shape and that only the correct receptor can fit into
Describe how extracellular enzymes are secreted from the cells (2)
Exocytosis enables vesicles to fuse with the plasma membrane which results in the releasing of enzyme to the exterior
Describe the term active transport (2)
The movement of substances from low to high concentration using ATP and occurs through transport proteins