Nucleic Acids Flashcards
What are nucleic acids?
Polymers made up of monomers called nucleotides that store and transmit genetic information.
Define monomers and polymers in the context of biological molecules.
Monomers are the basic building blocks, while polymers are larger structures formed by linked monomers.
What are the components of a nucleotide?
A nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar (pentose), and a phosphate group.
How do nucleotides contribute to the structure of nucleic acids?
They link together to form the backbone, with bases extending from the sugar-phosphate backbone.
Explain the central dogma of molecular biology.
Describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.
What are the building blocks of proteins?
Amino acids.
Identify the types of biological molecules and their corresponding monomers.
Proteins (amino acids), nucleic acids (nucleotides), carbohydrates (monosaccharides).
How does understanding the structure of molecules aid in understanding their function?
The arrangement of atoms and functional groups determines interactions and biological roles.
List the four main types of biological molecules.
Proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids.
Describe the role of lipids in biological systems.
Energy storage, structural components of cell membranes, signaling molecules.
What is the significance of hierarchical assemblies in biological systems?
Organization from small molecules to complex tissues highlights complexity and interdependence.
Describe the role of DNA in protein synthesis.
Contains information that prescribes the amino acid sequence of proteins.
How does RNA function in relation to DNA and proteins?
Serves in the machinery that links amino acids in the correct sequence.
Differentiate between a nucleotide and a nucleoside.
A nucleotide includes a phosphate group; a nucleoside consists of only the nitrogenous base and sugar.
List some functions of nucleotides beyond being monomers for nucleic acids.
Signaling molecules, carry chemical energy, combine to form enzymes.
Explain the significance of the double helix structure of DNA.
Crucial for stability and accurate replication and transcription of genetic information.
Identify the role of ATP in cellular processes.
Acts as a carrier of chemical energy.
Describe the structure of DNA.
Two antiparallel strands with sugar-phosphate backbones held by hydrogen bonds between paired bases.
Define complementary base pairing in DNA.
Adenine pairs with Thymine and Guanine pairs with Cytosine.
Explain the process of DNA replication.
Involves the DNA double helix acting as a template for duplication.
What is meant by semi-conservative DNA replication?
Each new DNA molecule consists of one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.
Describe the role of the replication fork in DNA replication.
Area where the DNA double helix is unwound for new strand synthesis.
How is DNA packaged in cells?
Through a complex structure involving histones and chromatin.
Describe the structure of ribonucleic acid (RNA).
Single-stranded but can fold into specific structures.
Define non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs).
RNA molecules that do not code for proteins, including rRNA, tRNA, snRNA, snoRNA.
How do transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules function in protein synthesis?
Transport amino acids to the ribosome, matching anticodon with codon.
What are the types of structural non-coding RNAs?
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), small nuclear RNA (snRNA), small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA).
Explain the role of regulatory non-coding RNAs.
Involved in the regulation of gene expression and influence cellular processes.
How does RNA differ from DNA in terms of structure?
RNA is typically single-stranded, while DNA is double-stranded.
What is the significance of the genetic code in biology?
Essential for translating DNA information into proteins.
List some recommended readings for understanding molecular biology.
‘OCR AS/A level Biology A’, ‘Campbell Biology’, ‘Molecular Biology of the Cell’.
