DNA and RNA Flashcards
what is a nucleotide?
a biological molecule made from a pentode sugar, a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group
what is the pentose sugar in DNA?
deoxyribose
what is the pentose sugar in RNA?
ribose
what is DNA’s main function?
it’s used to store genetic information
what is RNA’s main function?
to transfer genetic information from the DNA to the ribosomes
what are the potential bases in DNA called?
adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine
what are the bases in RNA?
adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil
how are polynucleotides formed?
through a condensation reaction between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the sugar of another one
what is the chain of sugars and phosphates called?
the sugar-phosphate backbone
what are the two types of bonds in polynucleotide strands called?
ester bonds and phosphodiester bonds
what is the structure of DNA?
two polynucleotide strands joined together with hydrogen bonds between the base pairs, they form a double helix and the strands are antiparallel
how does DNA replicate?
semi conservative replication
