Lecture 5

Question 1

Nucleotide

Answer 1

Nucleotides are the monomers of nucleic acids. DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (Ribonucleic acid)

Question 2

Role of DNA

Answer 2

Contains information on how to make proteins. DNA is passed from generation to generation. Biological role is to contain the ways of life for each gene/cell. Has one less O than ribose.

Question 3

Role of RNA

Answer 3

Has many roles, including being a vital component in the process of making proteins.

Question 4

How do nucleotides form double stranded nucleic acids?

Answer 4

The nucleotides in DNA are antiparallel and run in opposite directions. The bases are complementary with one 5’ to 3’ and the other 3’ to 5’. The deoxyribose sugar nucleotide has one less oxygen atom enabling it to form hydrogen bonds between the strands to form the helix.

Question 5

How do nucleotides form single stranded nucleic acids.

Answer 5

Single stranded nucleic acids contain ribose sugar which contains an hydroxyl group instead of the H in DNA. Thus these aren’t able to hydrogen bond and form single stranded nucleic acids instead.

Question 6

Pyrimidines

Answer 6

Cytosine, Uracil, Thymine (CUT the Py)

Question 7

Purines

Answer 7

Adenine, Guanine

Question 8

Ribose sugar

Answer 8

Ribose has an extra O than deoxyribose sugar

Question 9

Deoxyribose sugar

Answer 9

Deoxyribose has one less O atom than ribose, (de-oxy = 1 less O)

Question 10

Distinguish between the 5’ and 3’ ends.

Answer 10

The 3’ and 5’ end of a DNA molecule are distinguishable based on the orientation of the sugar phosphate backbone. The 5’ end has a phosphate group, and the 3’ end has a free hydroxyl group.

Question 11

DNA Structure

Answer 11

1. deoxyribose sugar
2. nucleotide bases A, C, G, T
3. double stranded
4. H Bonds between the strands
5. Very stable

Question 12

RNA structure

Answer 12

1. Ribose sugar
2. Flexible
3. Reactive
4. Nucleotide bases A, C, G, U
5. single stranded
6. H bonds to itself (folding)