Module 4: Nucleic Acids Flashcards
Plasmids
Carries only one or two genes
can replicate independently of core genome and be transferred from one cell to another (rapid spread of genes)
Super coiling
Coiling that occurs in addition to coil helical DNA structure
preserves double helix and compact DNA into small space
Streptococcal bacteria
Normal inhabitants of human upper respiratory tract
Benign strains harmless
Virulent strains -mild symptoms (sore throat) to severe (pneumonia)
Transformation
Change in cell behaviour resulting from incorporation of hereditary material from outside cell
Nucleotide
Phosphate group, five carbon deoxyribose sugar, nitrogenous base
Pyrimidines
Cytosine and thymine
Single ring
Purines
Guanine and adenine
2 rings
Chargaff’s rules
A and T -2 hydrogen bonds
G and C -3 hydrogen bonds
Messenger RNA/mRNA
Single stranded RNA molecules that is copy of gene that codes for protein
Translated by ribosomes
Transfer RNA/tRNA
Carry amino acids into ribosomes and match amino acids to appropriate mRNA sequence
Not translated
Ribosomal RNA/rRNA
Multiple rRNAs and proteins form functional ribosomes complexes that perform translation of mRNAs into proteins