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Biology: Biological Molecules > Nucleic acids > Flashcards

Nucleic acids Flashcards

1
Q

What are nuclei acids?

A

One of the most important groups of biological molecules, best known as ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

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2
Q

What is the function of nucleus acids?

A

Important carrying molecules

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3
Q

What is the function of DNA?

A

Holds genetic information

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4
Q

What is the function of RNA?

A

It transfers genetic information to ribosomes where proteins are made

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5
Q

Monomer of nucleic acids

A

Nucleotides

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6
Q

Dimer of nucleic acids

A

Dinucleotides

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7
Q

Polymer of nucleic acids

A

Polynucleotides

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8
Q

What are the components in a nucleotide?

A

•A phosphate group
•A pentose sugar
•Nitrogen containing bases

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9
Q

Component of a DNA nucleotide

A

•A charged phosphate group
•A 5 carbon pentose sugar which is deoxyribose (A carbohydrate as it’s a sugar)
•One of 4 nitrogen containing bases: Adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine

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10
Q

Components of a RNA nucleotide

A

•A charged phosphate group
•A 5 carbon pentose group which is ribose
•One of 4 nitrogen containing bases: Adenine, cytosine, guanine or uracil

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11
Q

What do all components together form?

A

They create a sugar phosphate backbone

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12
Q

Formation of dinucleotides

A

Joined via condensation reactions between phosphate group’s 5 prime end of one nucleotide and the ribose (RNA) or deoxyribose (DNA) 3 prime end forming a phosphodiester bond

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13
Q

Reactions involving DNA nucleotide are catalysed by…

A

DNA polymerase

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14
Q

Reactions involving RNA nucleotides are catalysed by…

A

RNA polymerase

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15
Q

What does DNA/RNA polymerase do to bonds?

A

Secure and solidify the phosphodiester bonds of the sugar phosphate backbone

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16
Q

What are the bonds within nucleotide polymers?

A

A phosphodiester bonds

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17
Q

What is the other product of condensation reactions between nucleotides?

A

Water molecules - 1 for each condensation reaction

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18
Q

If more mononucleotides are added via condensation it forms a…

A

Polynucleotide

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19
Q

What do polynucleotides result in?

A

Many phosphodiester bonds forming

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20
Q

What is the importance of many phosphodiester bonds being formed?

A

Creates the sugar phosphate backbone of Nucleic acids which is stable and strong

21
Q

What direction can nucleotides only be added in?

A

ONLY added in a 5’-3’ direction by DNA polymerase

22
Q

What is the structure of DNA?

A

A double helix with two polynucleotide chains held together by (weak) hydrogen bonds between specific complementary base pairs

23
Q

Who put forward the double helix structure?

A

Watson & Crick

24
Q

What hand is the helix structure?

A

Right handed

25
Q

What is the 5’ (prime) end?

A

The phosphate end

26
Q

What is the 3’ (prime) end?

A

The carbon sugar end

27
Q

What are the DNA strands opened up by?

A

DNA helicaese

28
Q

How are Adenine and Thymine bonded?

A

2 hydrogen bonds

29
Q

How are Cytosine and Guanine bonded?

A

3 hydrogen bonds

30
Q

What direction do the 2 polynucleotides run in?

A

Opposite directions which means they are antiparallel

31
Q

What is 5’ - 3’ is important in?

A

DNA replication and when making proteins

32
Q

What is the function of DNA?

A

To hold genetic information

33
Q

3.w billion base pairs spread over … chromosomes in each cell nucleus?

A

23 chromosomes

34
Q

What is a gene?

A

A section of DNA which codes for (polypeptide) proteins

35
Q

What’s a chromatid?

A

Half a chromosome

36
Q

What makes organisms DNA different?

A

The DNA base sequence

37
Q

What is the purpose of the sugar-phosphate backbone and double helix structure?

A

1) Provides strength and stability
2) Protects information codes in the bases and hydrogen bonding between bases

38
Q

What is the purpose of DNA being a longer molecule?

A

This means it’s can store a lot of information

39
Q

What is the purpose of a helix structure?

A

It makes it compact

40
Q

What is the purpose of base sequences?

A

It allows it to code for amino acids and therefore proteins

41
Q

What is the purpose of DNA being double stranded?

A

Allows semi-conservative replication because each strand can act as a template

42
Q

What is the purpose of complementary base pairing A-T and C-G?

A

Allows for accurate replication

43
Q

What is the purpose of (weak) hydrogen bonds between bases?

A

Easily broken and separation of strands for semi-conservative replication

44
Q

What is the purpose of many hydrogen bonds in the whole molecule?

A

To make it a strong and stable molecule

45
Q

In chargaffs base pairing rule which bases have equal amounts?

A

Adenine = Thymine
Cytosine = Guanine

46
Q

What does pyrimidine mean?

A

1 ring

47
Q

What does purine mean?

A

2 rings

48
Q

Which bases are pyrimidine?

A

Cytosine and Thymine

49
Q

Which bases are purine?

A

Adenine and Guanine

Biology: Biological Molecules (11 decks)

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