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Biology A- Level > Core Concepts (Nucleic Acids) > Flashcards

Core Concepts (Nucleic Acids) Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the monomers of
nucleic acids?

A

Nucleotides

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2
Q

State the three components of
nucleotides.

A

● Pentose sugar
● Nitrogenous base
● Phosphate group

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3
Q

Draw the structure of a nucleotide.

A

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesciencehive.co.uk%2Fnucleotides-and-nucleic-acids&psig=AOvVaw2id8DSiPehpKh3XcUU3bav&ust=1675126150535000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA8QjRxqFwoTCKDv6peK7vwCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

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4
Q

What are the two types of organic base?

A

Purine and pyrimidine

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5
Q

DEL

A

DEL

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6
Q

What is a purine?

A

● Class of organic bases
● Double ring structure
● Includes adenine (A) and guanine (G)

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7
Q

What is a pyrimidine?

A

● Class of organic bases
● Single ring structure
● Includes cytosine (C), thymine (T), uracil (U)

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8
Q

Describe the structure of a DNA
nucleotide.

A

● Deoxyribose
● Organic base (A, T, C or G)
● Phosphate group

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9
Q

Describe the structure of an RNA
nucleotide.

A

● Ribose
● Organic base (A, U, C or G)
● Phosphate group

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10
Q

Describe the structure of an ATP
nucleotide.

A

● Ribose
● Adenine
● Three phosphate groups

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11
Q

What is an endergonic reaction?

A

A non-spontaneous reaction that
requires an input of energy, e.g. ATP
formation.

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12
Q

What is an exergonic reaction?

A

A spontaneous reaction that overall
releases energy, e.g. ATP hydrolysis.

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13
Q

DEL

A

DEL

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14
Q

Describe the role of ATP.

A

Universal energy currency. Hydrolysed to
release energy:
ATP + Water ⇌ ADP + Pi + Energy

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15
Q

What is complementary base pairing?

A

● Describes how hydrogen bonds form between
complementary purine and pyrimidine bases
● Two bonds form between A and T (or U)
● Three bonds form between G and C

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16
Q

Describe the structure of DNA.

A

● Double-stranded polymer of nucleotides twisted to form a
double helix
● Nucleotides joined by phosphodiester bonds
● Hydrogen bonds form between complementary base pairs,
A and T, C and G
● Antiparallel strands

17
Q

Why are the strands of a DNA double
helix described as ‘antiparallel’?

A

The complementary strands run parallel but
in opposite directions, 5’ to 3’ and 3’ to 5’.

18
Q

Describe the structure of RNA.

A

● Single-stranded polymer of nucleotides
● Nucleotides joined by phosphodiester bonds
● Hydrogen bonds form between complementary base
pairs, A and U, C and G

19
Q

Name the three types of RNA
found in cells.

A

● Transfer RNA (tRNA)
● Messenger RNA (mRNA)
● Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

20
Q

What is the function of tRNA?

A

It carries specific amino acids to the
ribosomes

21
Q

Describe the structure of tRNA.

A

● 80 nucleotides
● Single helix
● Clover leaf shape
● Anticodon on one end, amino acid binding
site on the other

22
Q

What is the function of mRNA?

A

Carries genetic information from the
nucleus to the ribosomes for protein
synthesis.

23
Q

Describe the structure of mRNA.

A
  • 2000 nucleotides
    ● Single helix
    ● Unstable
24
Q

What is the function of rRNA?

A

Associates with proteins in the cytoplasm
to form ribosomes.

25
Q

Describe the structure of rRNA.

A

● 1800 to 5000 nucleotides
● Two subunits: one large, one small

26
Q

What is semi-conservative replication?

A

The replication of DNA to produce two new
DNA molecules which both contain one new
strand and one old strand from the original
DNA molecule.

27
Q

What is the role of DNA helicase in
semi-conservative replication?

A

It catalyses the unzipping of
double-stranded DNA into two single
strands, each of which acts as a template.

28
Q

What is the role of DNA polymerase in
semi-conservative replication?

A

It catalyses the formation of
phosphodiester bonds between nucleotides
during the synthesis of a new DNA strand.

29
Q

What is the genetic code?

A

The rules by which triplets in a DNA base
sequence code for the sequence of amino
acids in a polypeptide chain. The genetic code
is degenerate, universal and
non-overlapping.

30
Q

Why is the genetic code described as
degenerate?

A

More than one triplet can code for a
particular amino acid.

31
Q

Why is the genetic code described as
universal?

A

The same codons code for the same
amino acids in almost all organisms.

32
Q

What is meant by ‘non-overlapping’?

A

Each base in a sequence is read once
and is only part of one triplet

33
Q

Describe the ‘triplet code’ for amino
acids.

A

A specific sequence of three nucleotides
(known as a codon) on a molecule of DNA
or RNA codes for a particular amino acid in
protein synthesis.

34
Q

What is an exon?

A

A region of DNA that codes for an amino
acid sequence.

Biology A- Level (11 decks)

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