Genetics Flashcards
What are the 3 basic components of a nucleotide
A pentose sugar made of 5 carbon atoms
A phosphate group
A nitrogen containing organic base (a,t,g,c,u)
What bonds two nucleotides
Phosphodiester bonds
What is the purpose of DNA
It holds genetic information
What is the purpose of RNA
Transfers genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes where proteins are synthesised
What is the structural of DNA
A sequence of nuclear bases (atgc) that join together through condensation reactions and form a polymer (a polynucleotide) it has a double helix
How do nucleotides bond to form RNA and DNA
Through phosphodiester bonds which link the sugar of one nucleotide to the phosphate group
How are DNA and RNA related to inheritance
Hereditary information is contained in the nucleotide sequence of DNA in a kind of code. The coded information is copied faithfully into RNA and translated into chains of amino acids.
What is transcription
The process of copying a segment of DNA into mRNA in the cells nucleus (copying)
What is translation
The process where ribosomes in the cytoplasm or endoplasmic reticulum synthesise proteins after the process of transcription of DNA to mRNA
What is the structure of RNA
A relatively short single stranded polynucleotide chain that contains a molecule of the sugar ribose, a phosphate group and a nitrogen containing organic base (CUAG)
Describe the structure of a protein
A sequence of amino acids that join through condensation reactions and form a polymer (a polypeptide)
What is a condensation reactions
A reaction that creates water with each join as a by product of the reaction
What is a mononucleotide
A single nucleotide containing the three components (a nitrogenous base, phosphate and a pentose sugar)
What is a dinucleotide
Two nucleotides joined together by the sugar and phosphate group to form phosphodiester bond
What is a polynucleotide
The linking of mono and dinucleotides to form a long chain single strand molecule.
What are the 2 types of RNA and what do they do
MRNA- messenger- takes genetic code to protein
TRNA- transfer- turns it into a protein
