DNA Flashcards
what does DNA stand for
DeoxyriboNucleic Acid
what is DNA + location
- molecule of heredity
DNA is a molecule found in cells specifically in the nucleus in the mitochondria, that contains the genetic information that determines the structure of the cell and the way it functions.
nuclear DNA structure
Nuclear DNA strands the wrap around 8 Proteins are called histones to form nucleosomes.
chromatin
The coiled DNA forms are tangled network called chromatin.
chromosomes
Super coiled, structures of chromatin are called chromosomes.
- 46 chromosomes in somatic cell
- 23 chromosomes in gamete
histones and nucleosomes importance
Histones and nucleosomes are important in the packaging of DNA to produce
chromosomes
polymer
Polymer/long macromolecule (many repeating small units) consisting of Two helical chains coiled around a common axis
nucleotides
The building blocks or monomers of these chains are called nucleotides
Each nucleotide consists of 5 carbon sugar (deoxyribose) , a phosphate sugar and a nitrogen containing organic base (nitrogenous base)
base pairing rule
Base Pairing Rule: The base adenine always bonds with thymine (A-T), and cytosine always bonds with guanine (C-G)
purines
Purines: the larger bases (Adenine and Guanine)
pyrimidines
Pyrimidines: the smaller bases (Cytosine and Thymine)
number of hydrogen bonds between bases
three hydrogen bonds between cytosine and guanine
two hydrogen bonds between thymine and adenine
polynucleotides
two poly nucleotide strands held together by weak hydrogen bonds,
the poly nucleotides held together by covalent bonds between sugar and phosphate
complimentary pairs
bases that are paired together are called complimentary pairs
order of bases determine _________
genetic code
length of DNA
2-3m
genes
Genes are sections of DNA
Genes contain instructions for the construction of a particular protein, or RNA
introns and exons
Genes consist of introns and exons
Exons are sections of coding DNA, that is they contain instructions for making proteins
Introns are sections of non-coding DNA, that is they do not contain instructions of making proteins but are now believed to serve other important functions
mitochondrial DNA
1% of all DNA in cell which is important for the functioning of mitochondria, there’s five to ten molecules of mtDNA in a mitochondrion
mitochondrial genes
Mitochondrial DNA carry about 37 genes
- 24 genes contain the code to make tRNA
- 13 make enzyme’s
the mitochondrial genes are responsible for the construction of several important enzymes involved in cellular respiration (aerobic), releasing energy for the cell
mitochondrial genes are inherited from the mother only
structure of mitochondrial DNA
circular molecule that is not bound to proteins
mtDNA vs nuclear DNA
- Nuclear DNA is in the form of very long strands that are bound to proteins, the histones
- mtDNA is in the form of small circular molecules that are not bound to proteins
where does DNA replication occur
it occurs in nucleus
enzymes involved in DNA replication
- helicase
- primate
- DNA polymerase
- ligase
- topoisomerase
helicase
Helicase, breaks Hydrogen bonds is the enzyme which unzips the the DNA molecule exposing the nitrogen base code, each exposed strand acts as a pattern or template for the construction of a new DNA molecule
DNA polymerase
initiated by primase,
DNA polymerase works its way along the template strand and add new nucleotides e.g A to T, C to G
Nucleotides pair with complementary nucleotide on the existing strand.
primase
makes Primer which consists of nucleotides