Nucleic acid

Question 1

what is nucleic acid made of

Answer 1

made of C, H, O, N, P atoms

Question 2

nucleic acid

Answer 2

• Store and process information

* Nucleic acids differ in their type of pentose sugar.

Question 3

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Answer 3

• Determines inherited characteristics
• Directs protein synthesis
• Controls enzyme production
• Controls metabolism

Question 4

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

Answer 4

• Controls intermediate steps in protein synthesis

Question 5

monomer of nucleotides

Answer 5

nucleic acids

Question 6

nucleotide

Answer 6

• one or more phosphate groups (left)
• a pentose sugar: either deoxyribose or ribose (middle)
• a nitrogen-containing base: adenine, cytosine, guanine,
thymine, or uracil (right)

Question 7

structure of DNA

Answer 7

• Adenine forms two hydrogen bonds with thymine
• Guanine forms three hydrogen bonds with cytosine
A == T, C ≡≡ G

Question 8

DNA – one type, one purpose

Answer 8

make all the functional molecules of the cell

Question 9

RNA – 4 types, 4 purposes

Answer 9

• Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): basis of structure and function of ribosomes
• Messenger RNA (mRNA): carries the message encoded in genes for protein synthesis
• Transfer RNA (tRNA): carries amino acids during proteins synthesis (translation process)
• Hetero nuclear RNA (hnRNA): a pre-cursor form of the
  mRNA during the synthesis of the latter

Question 10

tRNAs

Answer 10

carry specific amino acids to the mRNA

- anticodon of tRNA is complementary to the codons of mRNA

Question 11

examples of tRNA and mRNA

Answer 11

mRNA (codon)- AUG CGU GGU CCC

tRNA (anticodon)- UAC GCA CCA GGG

Question 12

Factors that Affect Enzyme Activity

Answer 12

• Salt (ionic) concentrations
• Presence of Inhibitors (competitive & non-competitive)
• Agitation
• Presence of cations of heavy metals like lead,
cadmium, mercury and arsenic.