DNA and RNA Flashcards
use of DNA
store genetic information
use of RNA
transfer genetic material from the DNA to the ribosomes
nucleotide structure
pentose sugar, nitrogen-containing organic base, phosphate base
polynucleotide structure
many nucleotides joined together via condensation reactions
phosphodiester bond.
what the chain of phosphates and sugars known as
sugar-phosphate backbone
DNA structure and how does this happen
double helix - two separate strands wind around each other to form a spiral
4 bases of DNA
adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine
complementary base pairing in terms of DNA and bases
two DNA polynucleotide strands join together by hydrogen bonds between bases.
each base will join with one particular partner
how is RNA different to DNA
sugar is RNA is ribose
uracil replaces thymine as a base
nucleotides form a single polynucleotide strand
much shorter than DNA