DNA Flashcards
What are the two types of nucleic acid?
RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)
What are the bases involved in DNA and how do they pair+bond?
Adenine Thymine (two nitrogen bonds)
Guanine Cytosine (three nitrogen bonds)
What do Nucleic Acids consist of?
Pentose (5 carbon) sugar
Phosphate Group
Nitrogenous base (contains nitrogen)
____ Reactions create ___ bonds between _____ (5 carbon) sugars and _____ in nucleic acid
Condensation, Phosphodiester, Pentose, Phosphates
___ _______ is the enzyme that “unzips” DNA
DNA Helicase
Polynucleotides (chains of nucleotides) or nucleic acids will have a free _’ end (phosphate) and a free _’ end (with ‘free’ sugar)
5, 3
Polynucleotides (chains of nucleotides) or nucleic acids will have a free 5’ end (_____) and a free 3’ end (with _____)
Phosphate, free sugar
What is DNA? How can you describe its structure?
DNA is the genetic code of living organisms and, with very few exceptions, is found in all cells. It regulates the development of living organisms through the control of protein synthesis
What is a gene?
A gene can be described as a sequence of DNA that codes for a certain characteristic (polypeptide)
One of the DNA strands is the coding or ‘template’ strand. What does this mean?
The sequence of bases code for the genes, as the opposite base will always pair with its counterpart.
What are the three types of RNA?
Messenger, Transfer, Ribosomal
What is messenger RNA?
Messenger RNA carries the code from the DNA in the nucleus to a ribosome in the cytoplasm where protein synthesis takes place.
What is Transfer RNA?
Transfer RNA carries the amino acids to the mRNA/ribosome where protein synthesis takes place. It is a single chain folded into a ‘clover leaf’ shape.
What is Ribosomal RNA?
Ribosomal RNA is made in the nucleolus and forms over half the mass of each ribosome.
