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Biology A Level > DNA > Flashcards

DNA Flashcards

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1
Q

What is DNA?

A

DNA is a molecule that contains all the instructions (genetic information) to put an organism together and make it work

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2
Q

Where is DNA found?

A

DNA is found in the nucleus of living cells
In really long molecules called chromosomes
(Chromosomes are made up of coiled up DNA)

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3
Q

What is uncoiled DNA known as?

A
  • CHROMATIN
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4
Q

How many metres of DNA does every cell in the body contain?

A

Every cell in the body contains about 2 metres of DNA therefore it has to be coiled and tightly packed

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5
Q

What does DNA stand for?

A

Deoxyribonucleic-acid

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6
Q

What gives a DNA molecule its spiral double helix shape?

A
  • the DNA molecule consist of 2 ‘polynucleotide strand’ that look like a twisted ladder
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7
Q

Why do all of the body’s cells contain exactly the same DNA?

A
  • all of the body’s cells contain exactly the same DNA because the DNA is copied exactly every time the cell divides
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8
Q

What are the sides of DNA made up from?

A

The sides (backbone) is made of sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate

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9
Q

What are the 4 bases that make the ‘steps’ of the double helix ladder?

A
  • ADENINE (A)
  • THYMINE (T)
  • CYTOSINE (C)
  • GUANINE (G)
    Bases are the basic building blocks of DNA
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10
Q

What do all of the ORGANIC bases contain?

A

All 4 bases contain nitrogen hence their other name NITROGENOUS BASES

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11
Q

How many classes can the 4 bases be split into? And what are the names of the two classes?

A

The 4 bases can be split into 2 classes PURINES and PYRIMIDINES

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12
Q

Name 2 purines:

A
  1. ADENINE
  2. GUANINE

THINK OF ‘OH PURE ADELAIDE’

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13
Q

Name 2 pyrimidines:

A
  1. THYMINE

2. CYTOSINE

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14
Q

What are purines?

A
  • bases that form double rings
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15
Q

What are pyrimidines?

A
  • bases that have one ring
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16
Q

Why is DNA a polymer?

A
  • DNA is a polymer because it’s made up of many repeated units called nucleotides
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17
Q

What groups do ALL nucleotides contain:

A
  1. Phosphate group
  2. Pentose - 5 carbon sugar
  3. Nitrogenous base e.g. A T C G
18
Q

What do nucleotides form?

A
  • nucleotides form the MONOMERS of nucleic acids DNA and RNA
19
Q

In DNA what is the nucleotide pentose sugar?

A
  • in DNA the nucleotide pentose sugar is DEOXYRIBOSE
20
Q

In RNA what is the nucleotide pentose sugar?

A
  • in RNA the nucleotide pentose sugar is RIBOSE
21
Q

What reaction joins nucleotides together and what is the product of this reaction?

A
  • Nucleotides join together by a CONDENSATION reaction to form a POLYNUCLEOTIDE chain
22
Q

What is the covalent bond between the sugar residue and phosphate group in a nucleotide known as?

A
  • The covalent bond between the sugar residue and the phosphate group in a nucleotide is called a PHOSPHODIESTER group
23
Q

Why are the 2 polynucleotides strands described as ANTIPARALLEL?

A
  • The 2 strands run in opposite directions so they are described as ANTIPARALLEL
24
Q

What is the direction of a polynucleotide based on?

A
  • the ‘opposite direction’ of the 2 strands refers to the direction that the 3rd and 5th carbon molecule on the 5 carbon sugar, deoxyribose are facing
25
Q

What is the 5’end of the molecule referring to?

A
  • the 5’end of the molecule is referring to where the phosphate group is attached to the 5th carbon atom of the deoxyribose sugar
26
Q

What is the 3’end of the molecule referring to?

A
  • the 3’end of the molecule is referring to where the phosphate group is attached to the 3rd carbon atom of the deoxyribose sugar
27
Q

What do the 2 polynucleotide strands twist around one another to form?

A
  • the 2 polynucleotide stands twist around one another to form the double helix
28
Q

Why do the 4 bases join together and form complementary pairs?

A
  • they form complementary pairs because they always join in a very specific way
29
Q

What base does the PURINE ADENINE always join to? And how many hydrogen bonds form between them?

A
  • ADENINE always joins to the PYRIMIDINE THYMINE

- 2 hydrogen bonds

30
Q

Which base does the PURINE GUANINE always form with? And how many hydrogen bonds form between the bases?

A

Guanine always forms with the PYRIMIDINE CYTOSINE

3 Hydrogen bonds

31
Q

Why do hydrogen bonds join the bases in DNA?

A
  • because the hydrogen bonds are very weak and so can easily be broken for transcription and DNA replication
32
Q

What bonds hold the 2 antiparallel polynucleotide strands together?

A
  • the two antiparallel strands are held together by hydrogen bonds
33
Q

Are there other types of nucleotide molecules?

A

YES

34
Q

What do you call a nucleotide which contains more than 1 phosphate?

A

When nucleotides contain more than 1 phosphate they are said to have become PHOSPHORYLATED - phosphor y lated - nucleotides

35
Q

Give 2 examples of 2 phosphoylated nucleotides:

A
  1. ATP

2. ADP

36
Q

What does ATP stand for?

A

ATP = ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE

37
Q

What is Adenosine triphosphate?

A
  • Adenosine triphosphate is an energy-rich END PRODUCT of most energy releasing bio chemical processes
  • and it is used in many energy requiring metabolic processes
38
Q

What does ADP stand for?

A

ADENOSINE DIPHOSPHATE

39
Q

What is adenosine diphosphate?

A
  • Adenosine diphosphate is another molecule that plays an important role in the process in which CELLS GENERATE ENERGY
40
Q

What makes an adenosine?

A

ADENINE + RIBOSE = ADENOSINE

Biology A Level (36 decks)

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