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biology > Nucleic Acids > Flashcards

Nucleic Acids Flashcards

I think there might be some duplicates but I'll fix that later heheh

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

DNA is?

A

deoxyribonucleic acid

I think there might be some duplicate cards but I’ll fix that later

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2
Q

RNA is?

A

ribonucleic acid

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3
Q

where is genetic info stored?

A

for most species, genetic info is stored in the DNA in the nucleus

RNA in the cytoplasm

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4
Q

where do some viruses and bacteria store genetic info?

A

in RNA

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5
Q

what does DNA do?

A
  • provides directions to guide the repair of worn cell parts and the construction of new ones
  • ensures the continuity of life
  • ensures diversity of life
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6
Q

what are Nucleic Acids made of

A

Nucleic acids are long chain molecules and their building blocks are nucleotides

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7
Q

what do nucleotides consist of?

A
  1. pentose (5 carbon) sugar
  2. a phosphate
  3. an organic (nitrogen) base which is sometimes called “nitrogenous”

they are a COMPLEX MOLECULE

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8
Q

what are the different organic bases?

A

A→ adenine
T→ Thymine/uracil (DNA/RNA)
C→ Cytosine
G→ Guanine

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9
Q

how are the parts of a nucleotide drawn in diagrams?

A
  • Sugar→ pentagon
  • phosphate→ circle
  • bases→ rectangle with the letter of base in side

(check photo)

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10
Q

what is the reaction and equation involved in building DNA?

A

condensation

phosphate + sugar + base → nucleotide + 2H2O

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11
Q

how are 2 DNA molecules linked

A

with a covalent bond between the phosphate of one nucleotide and the sugar of the next nucleotide

this forms the “backbone” of the double helix “ladder”

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12
Q

how are bases paired up

A

with a hydrogen bond

complimentary base pairing!

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13
Q

which bases can only form bonds with which bases and what is this called?

A

Adenine only forms Hydrogen bonds with thymine (uracil in RNA)

Cytosine only forms Hydrogen bonds with Guanine

complimentary base pairing

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14
Q

approximately how many nucleotides can complete a turn of the helix?

A

10, if we untwist DNA

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15
Q

which bases can form 2 hydrogen bonds

A

Adenine and Thymine (Uracil)

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16
Q

which bases can form 3 hydrogen bonds

A

Cytosine and guanine

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17
Q

Purines

A

2 ring structures (A,G)

(each pair/rung has 3 rings)

think of it like this: Pyrimidines is a longer word, but the structures are smaller! so opposite to the size of the word

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18
Q

pyrimidines

A

1 ring structures (C,T,U)

each pair/rung has 3 rings

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19
Q

what is DNA replication

A
  • a way of copying DNA to produce new molecules with the same base sequence
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20
Q

when and where is DNA replicated

A
  • DNA is replicated during interphase (before cell division) in the NUCLEUS
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21
Q

“semi-conservative”

A

DNA is

  • each molecule formed consists of one new strand and one old strand (from the parent or original molecule)
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22
Q

Helicase

A

the enzyme that unwinds and “unzips” the DNA, breaking the hydrogen bonds between the base pairs

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23
Q

DNA Polymerase III

A

“free-floating” nucleotides derived from the food you eat

form complimentary bonds with nucleotides of the parent strands to form new DNA strands

adds nucleotides in a 5’ to 3’ direction

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24
Q

leading strand

A

one strand is copied continuously

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25
Q

lagging strand

A

the other strand is copied in sections

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26
Q

where DNA Polymerase III replicates

A

DNA Polymerase III starts replicating next to the RNA primer and adds nucleotides in a 5’ to 3’ direction

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27
Q

where DNA is formed on the lagging strand

A

on the laggin strand, short lengths of DNA are formed between the RNA primer called Okazaki fragments

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28
Q

DNA polymerase I

A

removes the RNA primer and replaces it with DNA

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29
Q

DNA Ligase

A

seals up the leading and lagging strands

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30
Q

where is DNA in eukaryotic cell located?

A

nucleus

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31
Q

where does protein synthesis occur

A

on ribosomes and the nucleus

32
Q

where does nucleic acid RNA transport DNA?

A

The nucleic acid RNA carries the information from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm. (Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum)

33
Q

how does RNA differ from DNA?

A
  • RNA has ribose sugar (DNA Deoxyr.)
  • RNA is single stranded (DNA is double)
  • the base thymine in DNA is replaced by uracil in RNA
34
Q

what are the 3 types of RNA?

A
  • mRNA - messenger RNA
  • tRNA - transfer RNA
  • rRNA - ribsomal RNA
35
Q

what are the steps for protein synthesis

A
  1. Transcription: nucleotide language - DNA to mRNA
  2. Translation: mRNA language – mRNA information is converted by tRNA and rRNA on ribosomes to amino acid language to build proteins
36
Q

how many nitrogen bases code for one amino acid?

A

The genetic code on DNA is a triplet code: each three nitrogen bases code for one amino acid.

37
Q

codon

A

On mRNA the “groups of three nucleotides” are “codon”.

38
Q

anti-codon

A

On tRNA the groups of three are referred to as “anticodon”.

39
Q

“degenerate”

A

having more than one base triplet to code for one amino acids

40
Q

steps for transcription

A
  1. Initiation: RNA polymerase binds to the promoter region of the “sense” strand.
  2. Elongation: RNA polymerase copies the “anti-sense “ (template) strand of the DNA adding RNA nucleotides in the 5’ to 3’ direction.
  3. Termination: RNA polymerase reaches the termination site (stop signal), the RNA transcript is set free from the DNA template.

The m-RNA is modified, and introns are removed, and exons remain to move to the cytoplasm and attach to a ribosome.

41
Q

introns

A

non-coding mRNA sequences that are removed before translation

42
Q

exons

A

expressed sequences

43
Q

where does “translation” occur?

A

at the ribosomes

44
Q

difference in the process of “translation” in prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

A

In prokaryotes, ribosomes bind to mRNA as it is made – transcription and translation occur simultaneously.

In eukaryotes, mRNA leaves the nucleus and is bound to ribosomes in the cytoplasm.

45
Q

Two key events in Translation:

A

1: tRNA must read mRNA correctly
2: tRNA must carry the amino acid that is correct for its reading of the mRNA.

46
Q

how many nucleotides does a tRNA molecule have

A

about 75 to 80 nucleotides.

47
Q

what is at the 3’ end of every tRNA?

A

a site to which its specific amino acid binds covalently.

48
Q

what is at the midpoint of every tRNA?

A

A group of three bases, called the anticodon, which can bind to mRNA.

49
Q

how do the codon and the anti-codon bind?

A

The codon and anticodon bind by complimentary base pairing (hydrogen bonding).

50
Q

What does each ribosome consists of?

A

a small subunit and a large subunit.

Eukaryotic ribosomes are larger than prokaryotic ribosome.

51
Q

Sequence of Events in Translation.

A
  1. The small ribosomal subunit binds to its recognition site (start codon) on mRNA.
  2. tRNA carrying methionine binds the AUG initiation codon.
  3. The larger ribosomal subunit joins the initiation complex.
  4. The ribosome moves along the mRNA initiating the binding of the complementary tRNA with its amino acid.
  5. The amino acids are bonded by peptide bonds and the polypeptide begins to grow.
  6. When the ribosome reaches the stop codon (i.e., UAA) the mRNA is released from the ribosome and the ribosomal subunits separate.
52
Q

chargaff’s rules?

A

the percentages of A = T
the percentages of C = G
in the DNA molecule

53
Q

Rosalind Franklin

A

their work showed that the DNA molecule is shaped like an X and contains 2 strands

54
Q

Francis Crick and James Watson

A

described the structure of DNA as a double helix in which the 2 strands were wound around each other

55
Q

where is DNA located in prokaryotic cells?

A

cytoplasm

56
Q

how many DNA molecules does a prokaryotic cell have?

A

one circular DNA molecule

57
Q

Chromatin

A

DNA and protein packed together, creates a Eukaryotic chromosome

58
Q

histones

A

the protein that DNA coils around to form chromatin

59
Q

purpose of nucleosomes

A

they pack with one another to form a thick fibre (so the DNA can fit in a cell)

60
Q

replication fork

A

the sites where DNA replication and separation occur

61
Q

two major roles of DNA polymerase in the process of DNA replication

A

1: forms nucleotides to produce a DNA molecule
2: “Proofreads” new DNA strands

62
Q

what are mutations?

A

changes in genetic code resulting from an imperfect copy of DNA

63
Q

point mutation

A

mutations that occur in a single point in the DNA sequence

64
Q

frameshift mutation

A

a mutation involving the insertion or deletion of a nucleotide (thus causing the “frame” to shift)

abc def -> abb cde f (codons are changed, they are read differently)

65
Q

chromosomal mutations

A

involve changes in the number or structure of chromosomes

66
Q

deletion mutation

A

part or all of a chromosome is lost

ABC-DEF ->AC-DEF

67
Q

duplication mutation

A

an extra copy of parts of a chromosome is produced

ABC-DEF -> ABBC-DEF

68
Q

Inversion mutation

A

part of a chromosome becomes oriented in the reverse of its usual direction
ABC-DEF -> AED-CBF

69
Q

translocation

A

one part of a chromosome breaks off and attaches to another

ABC-DEF -> ABC-JKL, GH-IDEF

70
Q

what are mutations a source of in a species?

A

genetic variation

71
Q

polyploidy

A

the condition in which an organism has extra sets of chromosomes

72
Q

what is at the 5’ end of DNA?

A

phosphate (the circle!!)

73
Q

what is the composition of the backbone of DNA?

A

Alternating sugar and phosphate molecules

74
Q

DNA Polymerase I

A

removes the RNA primer during repliation

75
Q

universal

A

found in every living organism

biology (5 decks)

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