Molecular Genetics Flashcards
What did Miescher discover in 1869?
That cell nuclei contained a mixture of compounds named nuclein
What is molecular genetics?
Describes what genes are made of and how they function
What is nuclein?
A mixture of compounds in the cells nuclei
What is the major component of nuclein?
DNA
DNA and RNA are known to be _____________________
Polymers of nucleotides
What is a nucleotide composed of?
A sugar
A phosphate
A nitrogenous base
How are nucleotide polymers formed?
By linking the sugars together through their phosphate groups
What is the second major component of nuclein?
Proteins
Why are proteins?
Polymers or amino acids linked together by amide bonds (peptide bonds)
When nuclein was discovered what was the general thought behind the chromosome composition?
Chromosomes had to be composed of some kind of polymer, as this fit with the concept that genes were all lined-up along the length of the chromosome
What were the likely candidates for the genetic material?
DNA
RNA
Protein
