Nucleic Acids

Question 1

What is the flow of genetic information?

Answer 1

1. DNA replication and repair
2. Transcription (RNA)
3. Translation (Protein)
4. Protein Folding (Function)

Question 2

Who did the experiments that led to the discovery of the structure of DNA?

Answer 2

Rosalind Franklin

Question 3

What are nucleotides?

Answer 3

Building blocks of nucleic acids. Can be used for energy, signaling, and coenzymes.

Question 4

What are the 6 nucleobases?

Answer 4

Purine, Adenine, Guanine, Pyrimidine, Cytosine, Uracil, Thymine

Question 5

Which nucleobases are purines?

Answer 5

Purine, Adenine, and Guanine

Question 6

Which nucleobases are pyrimidines?

Answer 6

Pyrimidine, Cytosin, Uracil, and Thymine

Question 7

What is a nucleoside?

Answer 7

Nucleobase covalently linked to the C1’ of a pentose (5-carbon sugar)

Question 8

What is the bond of a nucleoside called?

Answer 8

Glycosidic bond

Question 9

What are nucleotides?

Answer 9

Phosphate esters of nucleosides

Question 10

Is DNA a right or left handed helix?

Answer 10

Right

Question 11

How many bonds does G form with C and A form with T?

Answer 11

3 hydrogen bonds between G and C and 2 hydrogen bonds between A and T

Question 12

What are the helix diameter, rise, and pitch?

Answer 12

20 A
3.4 A (distance down per basepair)
34 A (distance down per 360 degree turn)

Question 13

How many basepairs are there per helical turn?

Answer 13

10

Question 14

What is the A-form adopted by?

Answer 14

Complementary RNA sequences

Question 15

What is the Z-form adopted by?

Answer 15

Left handed double helix with zig-zag backbone

Question 16

What is the order of DNA (left to right)?

Answer 16

5’ to 3’

Question 17

Can the double helix be reversibly denatured?

Answer 17

Yes

Question 18

What does it mean that melting is cooperative?

Answer 18

Once started, the melting will go all the way naturally.

Question 19

What causes a higher Tm (melting Temp)?

Answer 19

More GC content in DNA