DNA & RNA Flashcards
What are the main functions of RNA?
- Transfer genetic information from the DNA to the ribosomes.
What are nucleotides made from?
- a pentose sugar
- a nitrogen-containing organic base
- a phosphate group
DNA and RNA are polymers of what biological molecule?
Nucleotide
What is the pentose sugar in a DNA nucleotide called?
Deoxyribose
What part of a DNA nucleotide varies?
The base
What parts of a DNA nucleotide stay the same?
- Deoxyribose sugar
- Phosphate group
What are the 4 possible bases in DNA?
- Adenine (A)
- Thymine (T)
- Cytosine (C)
- Guanine (G)
What is the sugar in RNA called?
Ribose
What base replaces Thymine in RNA?
Uracil (U)
What parts of an RNA nucleotide varies?
The base
What parts of an RNA nucleotide stay the same?
- Phosphate group
- Ribose sugar
What are polynucleotides?
A polymer of nucleotides.
Only DNA nucleotides form polynucleotides.
False, both DNA and RNA nucleotides form polynucleotides.
What reaction happens between nucleotides in a polynucleotide?
A condensation reaction.
Between what parts of two nucleotides does a condensation reaction occur?
Between a phosphate group of one and the sugar of another.
What is the sugar-phosphate backbone?
The chain of sugars and phosphates in DNA
What is the bond between two nucleotides?
A phosphodiester bond (consisting of the phosphate group and two ester bonds)
What bond joins two DNA polynucleotide strands?
Hydrogen bonds between the bases.
What is complementary/specific base pairing?
Each base can only join with one specific partner.
Which base does Adenine always pair with?
Thymine (A - T)
Which base does Cytosine always pair with?
Guanine (C - G)
There’s always equal amounts of Adenine and Thymine, and equal amounts of Cytosine and Guanine.
True
How many hydrogen bonds form between Adenine and Thymine?
Two
How many hydrogen bonds form between Cytosine and Guanine?
Three
What does antiparallel mean?
Running in opposite directions
How is DNA structured?
Two antiparallel polynucleotide strands twist to form the DNA double helix.
How is RNA structured?
It is made from a single polynucleotide chain and is much shorter than most DNA polynucleotides.
