Genetics: DNA structure and Code

Question 1

What is DNA called and what is it composed of?

Answer 1

DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid

Contains:
- 5 ring carbon sugar
- Phosphate group
- 1/4 possible nitrogen bases

Question 2

What is formed by the 3 parts of DNA?

Answer 2

A nucleotide, many of which join together forming DNA molecules.

Question 3

What are the 4 possible nitrogen bases?

Answer 3

• Adenine (A)
• Thymine (T)
• Guanine (G)
• Cytosine (C)

Question 4

What are the two ends of a DNA molecule?

Answer 4

Phosphate end: 5 prime end (5’)
Sugar end: 3 prime end (3’)

Question 5

What is the structure of DNA?

Answer 5

Ladder-like. Uprights composed of nucleotide chain’s phosphate and sugar parts. Nitrogen bases are rungs. They are held together via H-bonding
These two chains twist around one another (double helix) to stabilize the molecule.

Question 6

What is the DNA code?

Answer 6

Series of three nucleotides on a DNA molecule (triplet) will code one amino acid, which forms one protein. (3 nucleotide = 1 amino acids = 64 triplet possibilities (4 nucleotides))

Question 7

Why are proteins important?

Answer 7

1: They act as enzymes, being biological catalysts and controlling the bodies chemical reaction rates
2: They make up bone, muscle, skin, cell membranes, ligaments, tendons etc; (Important af to body structure)
3: Some act as hormones, important as they act as they body’s chemical messengers regulating it’s parts and functioning