DNA Flashcards
What does DNA stand for?
Deoxyribonucleic acid.
What is DNA used for?
Genetic information.
What reaction is involved when joining nucleotides?
Condensation reaction.
What bond forms between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the sugar of another?
Phosphodiester bond.
What are chains of sugars and phosphates known as?
Sugar-phosphate backbone.
What do DNA polynucleotide strands join together by?
Hydrogen bonds between the bases.
What is semi-conservative replication?
Two parent strands separate and both acts as a template for a complementary strand to form.
Describe the process of semi-conservative replication.
1) DNA helices breaks H bonds between bases on the two polynucleotide DNA strands. This unzips the helix to form two single strands.
2) Each original strand acts as a template for a new strand. Complementary base pairing means that free floating DNA nucleotides are attracted to their complementary exposed bases on each original template strand.
3) Condensation reactions join the nucleotides on the new strands together - catalysed by DNA polymerase. H bonds form between the bases on the original and new strands.
4) Each new DNA molecule contains one strand from the original DNA molecule and one new strand.
Who provided evidence for Semi Conservative replication?
Meselson and Stahl.
