DNA & RNA Flashcards
what does DNA stand for?
Deoxyribonucleic Acid.
what is the structure of DNA?
it has a double helix structure, consisting of two long strands that coil around each other.
each strand is made up of alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups, and attached to each sugar is one of four nitrogenous bases.
the two strands are connected by hydrogen bonds between complementary nitrogenous bases.
what are the key compenents of DNA?
the key components of DNA are nucleotides, each consisting of; a phosphate group, deoxyribose (five-carbon sugar), and a nitrogenous base ( one of either adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), guanine (G)).
what is the function of DNA?
the function of DNA is to store genetic information, replication, protein synthesis and inheritance.
where is DNA located in eukaryotic cells?
DNA is primarily located in the nucleus, and some DNA is also found in the mitochondria.
what is the structure of RNA?
RNA is made up of nucleotides, consisting of a phosphate group, ribose sugar (5-carbon sugar that contains one more oxygen than deoxyribose), and a nitrogenous base.
adenine (A), Uracil ( U) instead of Thymine found in DNA, cytosine (C), and guanine (G).
what are the types of RNA?
there are 3 main types; mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, and a few other ones.
snRNA, miRNA, lncRNA
what is the function of messenger RNA (mRNA)?
it carries the genetic information from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm, where proteins are synthesized. mRNA is prodcued during transcription, where a segment of DNA is copied into RNA.
what is the function of Transfer RNA (tRNA)?
it transfers the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis. each tRNA molecule is specific to one amino acid and has an anticodon that pairs with the corresponding codon on the mRNA.
what is the function of Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)?
it combines with proteins to form ribosomes, where protein synthesis occurs. it makes up a significant portion of the ribosome and plays a key role in facilitating the interaction between mRNA and tRNA.
what are the function of the Small nuclear RNA (smRNA), MircoRNA (miRNA), & Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)?
snRNA is involved in the processing of pre-mRNA in eykaryotic cells.
miRNA regulates gene expression by binding to mRNA and preventing translation.
lncRNA is involved in various cellular processes, including regulation of gene expression.
what is the overall function of RNA?
the main three functions are protein synthesis, gene regulation and catalysis.
where is RNA located in eukaryotic cells?
it is synthesized in the nucleus (mRNA, snRNA) and functions in the cytoplasm (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA).
what are the differences between DNA and RNA?
their structure, function, location and stability are different.
what is the difference in stability between RNA and DNA?
DNA is more stable due to its double-stranded structure and the absence of the reactive hydroxyl group in deoxyribose.
RNA is less stable, as the single-strnaed structure and the hydroxyl group in ribose make it more prone to degradation. this allows RNA to perform short-term tasks.
