Nucleic acids Flashcards
what does DNA stand for?
deoxyribonucleic acid
what are the three components of DNA?
deoxyribose (pentose sugar)
phosphate group
nitrogenous base (A, T, C, G) (and U but only in RNA)
what is the function of DNA?
- the function of DNA is to hold or store the genetic information
- DNA is the molecule that contains the instructions for the growth and development of all organisms
what are the 4 nitrogenous bases in DNA?(full names)
adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine
what are purines?
nitrogenous bases (adenine and guanine) that have two carbon rings
what are pyrimidines?
nitrogenous bases (thymine and cytosine) that have a single carbon ring
when two mononucleotides form to make a dinucleotide, where is the bond?
between the carbon 3 on the deoxyribose and the phosphate group the bond is called phosphodiester
what are the bonds between bases?
hydrogen bonds
what are the pairings of the bases?
A=T 2 hydrogen bonds
C-G 3 hydrogen bonds
how does the stability of DNA help it carry out its function?
ensure correct order and keep bases safe for mitosis and meiosis
longevity - lives as long as the cell
how does the length of DNA help it carry out its function?
to be able to hold a lot of genetic information
how does the hydrogen bond between strands of DNA help it carry out its function?
to enable DNA to be opened up for protein synthesis
also provide strength and stability
how do the base pairs on the inside of the molecule of DNA help it carry out its function?
so that they can be protected so the order of bases don’t get destroyed
