DNA Flashcards
why does DNA replication occur before cell division?
so each new cell has a copy of DNA
describe DNA replication steps
1) DNA helicase unwinds/unwraps DNA double helix
2) exposed bases bind to free floating nucleotides in the nucleoplasm
3) DNA polymerase binds the complementary nucleotides to unpaired bases which reproduces the original DNA molecule exactly
4) replication is semi-conservative (1 old + 1 new strand)
what’s DNA helicase?
opens up double strand
what’s DNA polymerase?
enzyme that makes DNA polymers
where does DNA replication occur?
replication fork
what is RNA primer made of?
RNA primase
whose experiment proved semi-conservative replication with data?
meselson and stahl
define DNA replication
copying of DNA molecules to produce more DNA
describe meselson and stahl’s experiment
- grew bacterium (E. coli) in the presence of radioactive 15N until a culture was obtained
- the DNA was labelled 15N
- subculture of the labelled bacterium was transferred for growth in the presence of normal 14N
- the generation time of E. coli is known so it was possible to take samples of this growing subculture after each gen.
- each sample’s DNA was extracted + isolated DNA was centrifuged in a caesium chloride sol. at 40,000 G for 20 hrs -> made DNA sediment out
describe meselson and stahl’s experiment THEORY
- the heavier the DNA, the further down it moved in the centrifuge tubes
- (15N DNA is heavier than 14N, so it moved to the lowest position)
- after 1 gen. all DNA moved to intermediate position -> showed presence of mixed 14 + 15N -> DNA in the gen. had 1 strand of parent molecule and 1 new strand
why did meselson and stahl’s experiment disprove the conservative hypothesis?
if it was true, 2 DNA masses would’ve been visible -> 1 heavy, 1 light (not intermediate)
in the 2nd gen. half of the DNA was intermediate and the other half was light
describe DNA structure
double stranded helix molecule 2 polynucleotide chains coiled polymer with repeating monomers nucleotides 4 bases -> ATCG
what bonds the sugar and phosphate in a nucleotide
phosphodiester bonds
what bonds bases together
H-bonds
how many hydrogen bonds between base pairs
AT -> 2
CG -> 3
state an easter linkage
O=C-O
define gene
section of DNA
sequence of 3 bases that code for a specific AA for a specific protein
define and give examples of purine bases
2 rings
A
G
define pyrimidine bases and give examples
1 ring
T
U
C
what can phosphoric acid do?
substance that can libertine
H-ions