DNA and RNA Flashcards

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1
Q

What does DNA stand for?

A

deoxyribonucleic acid

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2
Q

What does DNA store?

A

Genetic information

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3
Q

What does RNA stand for?

A

Ribonucleic acid

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4
Q

What is the main function of RNA?

A

To transfer genetic information from the DNA to the ribsosomes

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5
Q

What components make up a nucleotide?

A

A phosphate group
A pentose sugar
A nitrogen containing organic base

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6
Q

What is a nucleotide?

A

The monomers which make up DNA and RNA

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7
Q

What forms when many nucleotides join together?

A

Polynucleotide chain

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8
Q

How do the nucleotides join together?

A

Through a condensation reaction

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9
Q

Where do the nucleotides join together?

A

Between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the pentose sugar of another

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10
Q

What bond forms between the phosphate group and the pentose sugar?

A

Phosphodiester

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11
Q

What makes up a phosphodiester bond?

A

Phosphate group

2 ester bonds

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12
Q

What is the chain of phosphate and sugar called?

A

sugar-phosphate backbone

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13
Q

What structure does DNA have?

A

Double helix

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14
Q

Describe the double helix structure.

A

Two separate antiparallel polynucleotide strands which wind around each other to form a spiral, joined by hydrogen bonds

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15
Q

Why can DNA store a lot of genetic information in a small space?

A

The DNA molecules are long and tightly coiled up

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16
Q

What makes up a DNA nucleotide?

A

Phosphate group
Deoxyribose sugar
Base

17
Q

What are the 4 bases in DNA?

A

Adenine
Thymine
Cytosine
Guanine

18
Q

What type of bond joins the two polynucleotide strands together to form a DNA double helix?

A

Hydrogen bonds

19
Q

Which bases pair together in DNA?

A

Adenine and Thymine

Cytosine and Guanine

20
Q

How many hydrogen bonds form between adenine and thymine?

A

2

21
Q

How many hydrogen bonds form between cytosine and guanine?

A

3

22
Q

The two polynucleotide strands are antiparallel, what does this mean?

A

They run in opposite directions

23
Q

What makes up an RNA nucleotide?

A

Phosphate group
Ribose sugar
Base

24
Q

What are the 4 bases in RNA?

A

Adenine
Uracil (instead of thymine)
Cytosine
Guanine

25
Q

What do the nucleotides form in RNA?

A

a single polynucleotide strand

26
Q

Is RNA shorter or longer than DNA?

A

Shorter

27
Q

Why did scientists doubt that DNA could carry the genetic code?

A

They thought it was too simple