Nucleic Acids Flashcards

1
Q

what does RNA stand for?

A

Ribonucleic acid

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2
Q

What does DNA stand for

A

Deoxyribonucleic acid

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3
Q

What are the three components of a nucleotide

A

A pentose sugar
A phosphate group
A nitrogen containing organic base

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4
Q

What are the 5 nitrogen containing organic bases

A
Cytosine
Thymine (DNA)
Uracil (RNA)
Adenine
Guanine
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5
Q

How are the pentose sugar, phosphate group an organic base joined?

A

Condensation reactions

Phosphodiester bond (between nucleotides)

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6
Q

What is the pentose sugar in RNA

A

Ribose

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7
Q

What bonds are formed between nitrogenous bases?

A

Hydrogen bonds

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8
Q

What are the base pairings?

A

Adenine - Thymine/Uracil

Guanine - Cytosine

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9
Q

How is a DNA molecule stable?

A

Phosphodiested backbone protects more chemically reactive organic bases

Hydrogen bonds link the organic base pairs

Strongest in C-G pairings

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10
Q

How is DNA adapted to carry out its function

A
Stable 
Rarely mutates
Hydrogen bonds easily separated in replication
Large - more genetic information
Backbone protects base pairings
Base pairing allows replication to mRNA
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11
Q

Outline the four requirements of semi conservative replication

A

Four types of nucleotide each with their base pair must be present

Both stands of DNA act as a template for attachment of nucleotides

The enzyme DNA polymerase

Chemical energy

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12
Q

Outline the process of semi conservative replication

A

DNA helicase breaks the hydrogen bonds

Double helix separated into two strands

Exposed poly nucleotides acts as template

DNA polymerase joins nucleotides in condensation reaction

Each new DNA molecule contains one original DNA strand and one new strand

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13
Q

Outline the supporting evidence provided by Watson and Crick in the semi conservative model

A

Heavy N15 DNA was cultivated

When placed into a N14 culture

The following generation provided one N14 and one N15 strand

Showing up half way between the two lines of DNA in the tubes

Cultivated in bacteria

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14
Q

Outline the structure of ATP

A

Adenine
Ribose
Three phosphate groups

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15
Q

Outline the equation for ATP energy release

A

ATP + H2O > ADP + P + Energy

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16
Q

Outline the function of ATP hydrolase

A

Acts as a biological catalyst
For the hydrolysis
Of ATP into ADP

17
Q

Outline the function of ADP synthase

A

Acts as a biological catalyst
For the condensation
Of ADP into ATP

18
Q

What are the three ways ATP is synthesised from ADP

A

Photosynthesis
Respiration (eukaryotes)
Transfer of phosphate groups from donor molecules to ADP (substrate-level phosphorylation)

19
Q

Outline the main role of ATP

A

Immediate energy source

20
Q

How is ATP adapted to its function

A
Weak bonds between phosphate molecules
Cannot be stored
Easily produced 
Lots of mitochondria
Reversible reaction
21
Q

Outline the processes cells use ATP for

A

Metabolic - building macromolecules (eg starch)
Movement - Muscle contraction
Active Transport - changes carrier protein shape
Secretion - form lysosomes
Phosphorylation - more reactive molecules

22
Q

List the properties of a water molecule

A
Dipolar
Hydrogen bonding
Specific heat capacity 
Latent heat of vaporisation
Cohesion and surface tension
23
Q

Describe dipolar property (biology)

A

Oxygen is more negative

Hydrogens are more positive

24
Q

Describe hydrogen bonding (biology)

A

Negative oxygen attracts positive hydrogen
Positive hydrogen attracts negative oxygen
Creating a weak inter molecular force

25
Q

Describe the specific heat capacity of water

A

Hydrogen bonding makes molecules stick together
More energy is required to separate them
Increasing the boiling point of water
Making water act as a buffer to heat changes

26
Q

Describe the latent heat of vaporisation of water

A

Hydrogen bonding

Requires a lot of energy to evaporate 1g of water

27
Q

Describe cohesion and surface tension in water

A

Water molecules stick together (cohesion)
Allow it to be pulled up without energy
Pulled back into water rather than into air
Making water surface act like a strong “skin”

28
Q

Outline how water is used metabolically

A

Break down molecules in hydrolysis
Produced in condensation reaction
Chemical reactions occur aqueous conditions
Raw material for photosynthesis

29
Q

Outline how water is used as a solvent

A

Dissolves gases (eg oxygen and CO2)
Dissolves harmful waste material (eg urea)
Dissolves inorganic ions for transport
Dissolves enzymes for aqueous conditions

30
Q

Outline how water is used by animals for external conditions

A

Evaporates to cool animals
Provides support for hydrostatic skeletons
Transparent allowing aquatic plants to photosynthesise
Surface tension to allow animals to sit atop
Cohesion allows pull up a xylem