Nucleic Acids Flashcards
information storage molecule?
nucleic acids
function?
genetic material, (stores info, genes, blueprint for building proteins) and transfers info (blueprint for new cells and next generation
examples of nucleic acids
DNA (double helix) and RNA (single helix)
monomers =
nucleotides
three parts to a nucleotide
nitrogen base (C-N ring), pentose sugar (5C), phosphate group (PO4)
two types of nucleotides
purines and pyrimidines
purine
double ring, adenine, guanine
pyrimidine
single ring, cytosine, thymine, uracil
phosphodiester bond
new base added to sugar of previous base, polymer grows in one direction
why are dangling bases important?
attach to other bases to make DNA
pairing of nucleotides?
bond between DNA strands
why are matching bases important?
A-T, C-G always go together and we can form another strand
why are h bonds important?
H bonds are weak enough to break apart the strong but strong enough to hold it together
2 strands of DNA are
complementary
when does a cell copy DNA?
cell reproduction (mitosis), gamete reproduction (meiosis)
