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nucleic acids Flashcards

1
Q

What are nucleic acids?

A

Nucleic acids are biopolymers essential for all known forms of life, primarily DNA and RNA.

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2
Q

What is the structure of DNA?

A

DNA has a double helix structure composed of two strands of nucleotides.

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3
Q

What are the four nitrogenous bases in DNA?

A

Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), and Guanine (G).

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4
Q

True or False: RNA contains Thymine.

A

False. RNA contains Uracil (U) instead of Thymine.

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5
Q

Fill in the blank: The sugar in DNA is called _____ .

A

deoxyribose.

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6
Q

What is the primary function of DNA?

A

The primary function of DNA is to store and transmit genetic information.

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7
Q

What is the role of RNA in cells?

A

RNA plays several roles, including coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.

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8
Q

Which type of RNA carries amino acids to the ribosome?

A

Transfer RNA (tRNA).

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9
Q

What is the process of copying DNA into RNA called?

A

Transcription.

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10
Q

What is the process of translating RNA into a protein called?

A

Translation.

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11
Q

True or False: DNA replication is a conservative process.

A

False. DNA replication is semi-conservative.

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12
Q

What enzyme is primarily responsible for DNA replication?

A

DNA polymerase.

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13
Q

What are the building blocks of nucleic acids?

A

Nucleotides.

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14
Q

What three components make up a nucleotide?

A

A phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

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15
Q

Which nitrogenous bases are purines?

A

Adenine (A) and Guanine (G).

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16
Q

Which nitrogenous bases are pyrimidines?

A

Cytosine (C), Thymine (T), and Uracil (U).

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17
Q

Fill in the blank: The two strands of DNA are held together by _____ bonds.

A

hydrogen.

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18
Q

What is the role of messenger RNA (mRNA)?

A

mRNA carries the genetic code from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

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19
Q

True or False: RNA is usually double-stranded.

A

False. RNA is usually single-stranded.

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20
Q

What is the significance of the 5’ and 3’ ends of a DNA strand?

A

They indicate the directionality of the DNA strand, with 5’ being the start and 3’ the end.

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21
Q

What is a codon?

A

A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides that codes for a specific amino acid.

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22
Q

What is the function of ribosomal RNA (rRNA)?

A

rRNA forms the core of the ribosome’s structure and catalyzes protein synthesis.

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23
Q

True or False: All organisms use the same genetic code.

A

True, with few exceptions.

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24
Q

What is a mutation?

A

A mutation is a change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA.

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25
Q

What is the term for the regions of DNA that do not code for proteins?

A

Non-coding regions or introns.

26
Q

What is the significance of the genetic code being degenerate?

A

It means that multiple codons can code for the same amino acid, providing redundancy.

27
Q

Fill in the blank: The process of modifying RNA after transcription is called _____ .

A

RNA splicing.

28
Q

what elements are nucleic acids made of

A

carbon,hydrogen,oxygen,phosphorous and nitrogen

29
Q

what are the two nucleotides we study

A

dna and rna nucleotides

30
Q

tell me the structure of an dna nucleotide

A

-pentose sugar-deoxyribose as well as a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base

31
Q

what are the four possible nitrogenous bases for a dna nucleotide

A

-adenine
-thymine
-guanine
-cytosine

32
Q

what is the structure of a rna nucleotide

A

-pentose sugar-ribose,phosphate group and a nitrogenous base

33
Q

what are the four possible nitrogenous bases for a rna nucleotide

A

-uracil,adenine ,cytosine and guanine

34
Q

compare a dna nucleotide with a rna nucleotide

A

similarities

-both have a nitrogenous base
-both have a pentose sugar
-both have one phosphate group

Difference
in a dna nucleotide the pentose sugar is deoxyribose ,in rna nucleotide its ribose

-in an rna nucleotide the thymine nitrogenous base is replaced by uracil

35
Q

how does deoxyribose differ from ribose

A

missing an oxygen on the second carbon

36
Q

how does a polynucleotide form

A

in a condensation reaction,the phosphate group of one nucleotide interacts with the deoxyribose sugar on of the next to form a polydiester bond ,releasing a water molecule in the process

37
Q

what are the two classes of nitrogenous bases

A

purines and puramidines

38
Q

describe the structure of dna

A

-phosphate groups and deoxyribose sugars form the sugar phosphate backbone
-phosphodiester bonds form ,results in a polynucleotide chain

-dna concists of two antiparallel polypetide chains bonded by h bonds that occur between complimentary base pairs
to form the dna molecule
-the polynucleotide chains are twisted to form a double helix

39
Q

how do you distinguish between a purine and a pyramidine

A

a purine has a two carbon ring structure whereas a pyramidine has a one carbon ring structure

40
Q

what nitrogenous bases are purines

A

adenine and guanine

41
Q

what nitrogenous bases are pyramidines

A

cytosine thymine and uracil

42
Q

what forms the sugar phosphate backbone

A

phosphate groups and pentose sugars

43
Q

role of dna

A

stores genetic information

44
Q

describe how the sugar phosphate backbone is formed

A

in a condensation reaction between the phosphate group of one nucleotide,the deoxyribose sugar of the the next where phosphodiester bonds are formed

45
Q

what hold the double helix structure of dna

A

the h bonds that form between complimentary base pairs

46
Q

which bases form h bonds

A

adenine with thymine in dna and adenine with uracil in rna

cytosine and guanine

47
Q

how many h bonds does a and t or a and u form

A

2

48
Q

how many h bonds does c and g form

A

3

49
Q

is it true that adenine amouns always qual thymine aand that cytosine amounts always equal guanine

A

yes

50
Q

role of messeger rna

A

-transfers gentic onformation from thr dna molecule to the ribosome

51
Q

role of transfer rna

A

brings specific amino acids to the ribosome- what a codon codes for

52
Q

role of ribosomal rna

A

part of the ribosome itself along with proteins

53
Q

explain the base pairing rule

A
54
Q

explain how the dna structure is adapted for its role

A
55
Q

explain dna extraction

A
56
Q

why do you grind the sample

A
57
Q

why do you add detergent

A
58
Q

why do you add alcohol

A
59
Q

why should the temp be kept low

A
60
Q
A

biological molecules (14 decks)

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