Nucleic acids Flashcards
1
Q
what is a nucleic acid backbone
A
sugar and phosphate
2
Q
how many main side chains are there in nucleic acids
A
5
3
Q
two types of nitrogenous bases
A
purines and pyrimidines
4
Q
purines
A
adenine
guanine
5
Q
pyrimidines
A
cytosine
thymine
uracil
6
Q
how is cytosine different from the basic pyrimidine ring?
A
an NH2 group
7
Q
how is uracil different from the basic pyrimidine ring?
A
an extra oxygen
8
Q
how is thymine different from the basic pyrimidine ring?
A
a methyl group and an extra oxygen
9
Q
how is guanine different from the basic purine structure?
A
an oxygen and an NH2 group
10
Q
how is adenine different from the basic purine structure?
A
an NH2 group
11
Q
adenine binds to thymine or uracil with
A
2 hydrogen bonds
12
Q
guanine binds to cytosine with
A
3 hydrogen bonds
