Nucleic Acids Flashcards
How many categories of Nucleic Acid are there?
2.
DNA/RNA
What are Nucleic Acids?
Building blocks of genetic material
informational library of every organism.
What is DNA?
DeoxyriboNucleicAcid
What does DNA do?
Stores infromation.
What is RNA?
RiboNucleicAcid
What does RNA do?
Intermediate molecule between DNA & protien
What are Nucleosides?
Carbon macromolecules in a ring structure.
Name the 5 common Nucleosides
Uracil Thymine Adenine Guanine Cytosine
DNA composition:
Thymine Adenine Guanine Cytosine (NO URACIL)
How many common Nucleosides in a ring structure?
5
Uracil, Thymine, Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine.
RNA Composition:
Uracil Adenine Guanine Cytosine NO Thymine
What does RNA NOT have?
Thymine
What does DNA NOT have?
Uracil
Name the DNA/RNA pairings:
AT : TA
GC : CG
UT : TU
How many Hydrogen bonds does A:T make?
Adenine & Thymine make 2 hydrogen bonds
How many hydrogen bonds do G:C make?
Guanine & Cytosine make up 3 hydrogen bonds.
What do A:T together make?
Access point to our DNA.
Bonding to create a nucleic acid backbone
What is the DNA strands called?
Alpha Helical Structure.
list the levels of genetic organizations
- Nucleotides - Individual Subunits (letters)
- Codon - 3 letter groupings of nucleotides. Indicate specific amino acids. (words)
- Genes - Multiple codons grouped together in a single structure. (sentance/paragraph)
- Chromosomes - Multiple genes grouped together in a single structure. (book)
- Genome - All the genetic information for that organism. (library)
Name the two different Levels (kinds) of Chromosomes structure.
- Circular Chromosomes
2. Linear Chromosomes
Describe circular chromosomes
simple, no "garbage" dna begin usually where they end usually small ~ 2000 genes (example: Bacterial chromosomes - mitochondrial dna)
Describe linear chromosomes
simple or complex, can contain alot of “garbage” dna
can be quite large
beginning point & distinct end point.
tend to be very highly complexed w/ proteins.
(Example: Human chromosomes)
~ 25,000 genes
alot of garbage dna codes for nothing
What are Plasmids?
Miniature chromosomes. most often used by bacteria contain at least one beneficial gene antibiotic resistance can be shared between between bacteria helps the bacteria to survive
What are viruses?
Hijack cells to produce more viruses.
Genetic code that allows for invasion of a cell
conversion of a cell, killing of a cell.
