DNA Structure and Function

Question 1

What does DNA stand for?

Answer 1

Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Question 2

What is DNA?

Answer 2

DNA is present in all cells of living organisms.

Question 3

Where is DNA found in eukaryotes?

Answer 3

In the nucleus.

Question 4

Where is DNA found in prokaryotes?

Answer 4

Floating throughout the cell.

Question 5

What is a nucleotide?

Answer 5

The building block of DNA, consisting of three parts.

Question 6

What are the three parts of a nucleotide?

Answer 6

1. Sugar (deoxyribose)
2. Phosphate group
3. Nitrogen base

Question 7

What is the shape of DNA?

Answer 7

DNA has a double helix shape.

Question 8

What are the monomers and polymers of nucleic acids?

Answer 8

Monomers: Nucleotides
Polymers: DNA and RNA

Question 9

What type of sugar is found in DNA?

Answer 9

Deoxyribose, a 5-carbon sugar.

Question 10

What bonds with the sugar in a nucleotide?

Answer 10

The phosphate group.

Question 11

What forms the backbone of DNA?

Answer 11

The sugar-phosphate connection.

Question 12

What are nitrogen bases?

Answer 12

Nitrogen bases code for genetic information.

Question 13

What are purines?

Answer 13

Purines are nitrogen bases with 2 rings: A-Adenine and G-Guanine.

Example mnemonic: “Apples in the tree”

Question 14

What are pyrimidines?

Answer 14

Pyrimidines are nitrogen bases with 1 ring: C-Cytosine and T-Thymine.

Question 15

What are complementary strands in DNA?

Answer 15

Complementary strands of DNA stick with their complementary base pairs. A pairs with T and C pairs with G.

Question 16

What is the significance of DNA?

Answer 16

DNA provides the instructions for living organisms.

Question 17

What determines genes?

Answer 17

DNA determines genes, and genes determine traits.

Question 18

What are examples of traits?

Answer 18

Examples of traits include hair color, eye color, height, hair type (curly, wavy, straight), freckles, widow’s peak, and type of ears.

Question 19

What is cell differentiation?

Answer 19

Cell differentiation is the process by which a cell becomes specialized.

Differentiated cells have the same genome as all other cells in an organism.

Question 20

What factors affect cell differentiation?

Answer 20

Factors that affect cell differentiation include external stimuli, internal stimuli, and signals from other cells in the organism.

Question 21

What are stem cells?

Answer 21

Stem cells are special human cells that have the ability to develop into many different cell types.

Question 22

What are some types of cells?

Answer 22

Types of cells include muscle cells, sex cells, immune cells, stem cells, epithelial cells, nervous cells, fat cells, and blood cells.