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A-Level Biology > DNA, ATP, Water and Ions > Flashcards

DNA, ATP, Water and Ions Flashcards

1
Q

What are nucleic acids primarily responsible for?

A

Storing and transmitting genetic information.

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2
Q

What are the two main types of nucleic acids?

A

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).

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3
Q

True or False: ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate.

A

True.

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4
Q

What is the function of ATP in cells?

A

ATP acts as a primary energy carrier.

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5
Q

Fill in the blank: The building blocks of nucleic acids are called __________.

A

nucleotides.

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6
Q

What are the three components of a nucleotide?

A

A phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

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7
Q

Which nitrogenous bases are found in DNA?

A

Adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine.

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8
Q

What is the role of water in biological systems?

A

Water acts as a solvent, a temperature buffer, and is involved in biochemical reactions.

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9
Q

True or False: RNA contains thymine.

A

False. RNA contains uracil instead of thymine.

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10
Q

What is the significance of the double helix structure of DNA?

A

It allows for the stable storage of genetic information and replication.

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11
Q

Which type of nucleic acid is typically single-stranded?

A

RNA.

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12
Q

What is the primary energy currency of the cell?

A

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

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13
Q

Fill in the blank: The process of synthesizing RNA from DNA is called __________.

A

transcription.

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14
Q

What is the role of ribosomes in relation to RNA?

A

Ribosomes translate mRNA into proteins.

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15
Q

What type of bond connects adjacent nucleotides in a nucleic acid strand?

A

Phosphodiester bonds.

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16
Q

True or False: Water has a high specific heat capacity.

A

True.

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17
Q

What is the primary function of ATP in metabolic processes?

A

To provide energy for cellular activities.

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18
Q

Which base pairs with adenine in DNA?

A

Thymine.

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19
Q

What is the role of helicase in DNA replication?

A

To unwind the DNA double helix.

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20
Q

Fill in the blank: The three phosphate groups in ATP are connected by __________ bonds.

A

high-energy.

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21
Q

What is the difference between DNA and RNA regarding sugar?

A

DNA contains deoxyribose, while RNA contains ribose.

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22
Q

True or False: Nucleotides can function as energy carriers.

A

True.

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23
Q

What is the process by which proteins are synthesized from mRNA?

A

Translation.

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24
Q

Which nitrogenous base is found in RNA but not in DNA?

A

Uracil.

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25
Q

What is the importance of water’s polarity?

A

It allows for hydrogen bonding and makes water an effective solvent.

26
Q

Fill in the blank: DNA replication is described as __________ because each new strand contains one original and one new strand.

A

semi-conservative.

27
Q

What is the role of DNA polymerase in DNA replication?

A

To synthesize new DNA strands by adding nucleotides.

28
Q

True or False: ATP can be regenerated from ADP and inorganic phosphate.

A

True.

29
Q

What is the significance of the sequence of nucleotides in DNA?

A

It determines the genetic information and instructions for building proteins.

30
Q

What are the four bases in RNA?

A

Adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine.

31
Q

Fill in the blank: Water’s high latent heat of vaporization helps organisms to __________.

A

regulate temperature.

32
Q

What is the equation for the condensation reaction of ADP to ATP?

A

Adenosine Diphosphate + Inorganic phosphate + Energy –> Adenosine Triphosphate + Water

33
Q

Which enzyme catalyzes the condensation reaction of ADP to ATP?

A

ATP synthase

34
Q

What is the equation for the hydrolysis reaction of ATP to ADP?

A

Adenosine Triphosphate + Water –> Adenosine Diphosphate + Inorganic phosphate + Energy

35
Q

Which enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis reaction of ATP to ADP?

A

ATP hydrolase

36
Q

What is phosphorylation?

A

The bonds between outer phosphate groups in ATP are unstable so have a low activation energy. A single hydrolysis reaction can remove a phosphate, which can form bonds with other molecules which releases energy. This process is called phosphorylation.

37
Q

How is energy released from ATP?

A

A single hydrolysis reaction can remove a phosphate, which can form bonds with other molecules which releases energy

38
Q

What are the three components of ATP?

A

Adenine, Ribose, 3x inorganic phosphate

39
Q

What does ATP stand for?

A

Adenosine Triphosphate

40
Q

What is the equation for aerobic respiration?

A

Glucose + Oxygen –> Carbon Dioxide + Water + ATP

41
Q

What is the function of the mitochondria?

A

Mitochondria is the site where energy is released/where ATP is produced via aerobic respiration.

42
Q

Give 2 uses of energy

A
  • Active transport – e.g. glucose absorption, ion uptake at roots
  • Muscle contraction – for movement
  • Protein synthesis – for growth and repair
  • Phosphorylation – Making molecules more reactive by lowering their activation energy
43
Q

How did Meselson and Stahl prove semi conservative replication?

A

The hybrid DNA in the experiment showed that an old strand of lighter DNA and a new strand of heavy DNA made the new DNA.

44
Q

Describe how DNA is replicated

A
  1. Strands are separated and hydrogen bonds break
  2. By DNA Helicase
  3. Both strands act as templates
  4. Free nucleotides are attracted
  5. Hydrogen bonds reform
  6. Complementary/specific base pairing
  7. DNA polymerase joins nucleotides by forming phosphodiester bonds
  8. Semi-conservative replication/new DNA molecules contain 1 old strand and one new one
45
Q

What 4 things are required for DNA replication to happen?

A
  1. A DNA molecule to be replicated
  2. Free DNA nucleotides
  3. DNA helicase
  4. DNA polymerase
46
Q

Describe the structure of DNA and explain how it aids its function

A
  • Phosphodiester backbone, prevents organic bases reacting with the environment
  • Long molecule, which allows it to store a lot of information
  • Double helix, makes DNA compact
  • Weak H bonds join base pairs which are easily broken for DNA replication
  • Double stranded which allows replication from template strands
  • Base sequence, allows information to be stored
  • Base stacking, makes DNA stable
47
Q

What is base stacking?

A

Additional forces between adjacent base pairs that hold the molecule together

48
Q

What are bonds that hold adjacent nucleotides together called?

A

Phosphodiester bonds

49
Q

What are the specific base pairs in a strand of DNA?

A

Adenine + Uracil
Cytosine + Guanine

50
Q

What are the specific base pairs in a strand of DNA?

A

Adenine + Thymine
Cytosine + Guanine

51
Q

What is the pentose sugar in a RNA nucleotide?

A

Ribose

52
Q

What is the pentose sugar in a DNA nucleotide?

A

Deoxyribose

53
Q

What are the four nitrogenous bases in RNA?

A

Adenine
Uracil
Cytosine
Guanine

54
Q

What are the four nitrogenous bases in DNA?

A

Adenine
Thymine
Cytosine
Guanine

55
Q

What are the three components of a nucleotide?

A

Phosphate, Pentose Sugar, Nitrogenous base

56
Q

What type of bonds join opposite nucleotides?

A

Hydrogen

57
Q

How does the structure of RNA differ from DNA?

A
  • RNA has Uracil, DNA has Thymine
  • RNA is short, DNA is long
  • RNA is single stranded, DNA is double stranded
  • RNA has ribose sugar, DNA has deoxyribose
58
Q

Importance of Iron ions:

A

Iron ions are in haemoglobin. It binds to the oxygen in haemoglobin temporarily becoming an Fe3+ ion until oxygen is released.

59
Q

Importance of Hydrogen:

A

pH is calculated based on the concentration of H+ ions, Enzyme-catalyzed reactions are affected by the pH.

60
Q

Importance of Sodium:

A

Na+ is involved in glucose / amino acid absorption into the ileum, via a carrier protein that carries out co transport.

61
Q

Importance of Phosphate:

A

Bonds between PO4 3- groups store energy in ATP. Phosphate groups in DNA and RNA allow nucleotides to join to form polynucleotides

A-Level Biology (5 decks)

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