Nucleic Acids Flashcards
Why is ATP a better source of energy than glucose? (2)
- energy released rapidly from a single reaction
- energy released in manageable quantities
Why so much ATP synthesised every day? (3)
- ATP is unstable
- ATP is immediate source of energy / cant be stored
- ATP only releases small amount of energy at a time
what are homologous chromosomes?
- pair of chromosomes
- with same genes
Explain how structure of DNA is related to its function: (6)
- Sugar-phosphate (backbone) so provides strength
- large molecule so can store lots of information
- coiled so compact
- base sequence codes for amino acids
- double stranded so replication can occur semi-conservatively
- (Weak) hydrogen bonds for replication / unzipping
what is degenerate
more than one (base) triplet for each amino acid
what is non-overlapping
each base is part of only one triplet
why can nucleotides only be added in a 5’ to 3’ direction
- DNA polymerase
- is specific
- only complimentary to 5’ end
- shapes of 5’ end and 3’ end are different
desc. role of DNA polymerase in DNA rep.
joins nucleotides together by forming phospho. bonds
Describe semi con. replication
- DNA helicase -> H-bonds betw/ bases to break, polynucleotide chains to separate
- Both strands act as templates
- Free DNA nucleotides attach to e/ strand by comp. base pairing
- H-bonds form betw comp/ base pairs
- DNA polymerase forms phosphodiester bonds betw/ adj. nucleotides on new strand -> cond. reaction
- Two new DNA molecules made. e/ consist of one new & old strand -> semi con. rep
Features of DNA important in semi-con replication (3)
- H-bonds betw/ base pairs
weak -> easily broken, allows strands to separate - two strands
both can act template - comp base pairings
allows accurate replication of gen. info
meaning of degenerate
more than one triplet for e/ amino acid
meaning of non-overlapping
each base is part of only one triplet
pentose sugar name in DNA & RNA
DNA: deoxyribose
RNA: ribose
what is a homologous chromosome
- one maternal and one paternal
- carry same genes
- pair up in meiosis
4 features of ATP that make it useful in bio molecules:
- releases energy in small amounts
- releases energy in just one step by breaking covalent phosphate bond; energy rapidly available
- can phosphorylate other molecules to make them more reactive
- can be regenerated