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Nucleic Acids Flashcards

1
Q

State the basic structure of a nucleotide. (F)

A
  • phosphate group
  • pentose sugar
  • nitrogenous base
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2
Q

State the carbon the phosphate group and nitrogenous base are attached to on the pentose sugar.

A

Phosphate group is attached to C5.

Nitrogenous base is attached to C1.

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3
Q

State the two main types of nucleic acid. (F)

A
  • DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

- RNA (ribonucleic acid)

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4
Q

Describe the similarities between the nucleotides of DNA and RNA. (F)

A
  • both have a phosphate group
  • both have a pentose sugar
  • both have the adenine, cytosine and guanine bases
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5
Q

Describe the differences between the nucleotides of DNA and RNA. (F)

A

Differences:

  • DNA has a deoxyribose sugar; RNA has a ribose sugar
  • DNA has the thymine base; RNA has the uracil base
  • DNA is double stranded; RNA is single stranded
  • DNA has hydrogen bonds; RNA doesn’t
  • DNA is long; RNA is short
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6
Q

Identify the difference between the structures of ribose and deoxyribose.

A

Ribose has an -OH group on C2; deoxyribose has an -H on C2.

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7
Q

List the full names of the 5 possible nitrogenous bases in nucleic acids.

A
  • adenine
  • cytosine
  • guanine
  • thymine
  • uracil
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8
Q

Name the two types of nitrogenous base.

A
  • purine

- pyramidine

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9
Q

Which nitrogenous bases belong to purine?

A
  • adenine

- guanine

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10
Q

Which nitrogenous bases belong to pyamidine?

A
  • cytosine
  • thymine
  • uracil
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11
Q

Outline the structure of the pyrimidine bases.

A
  • small

- single carbon ring structure

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12
Q

Outline the structure of the purine bases.

A
  • large

- double carbon ring structure

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13
Q

Define the term “monomer”. (F)

A

The individual molecules that make up a polymer.

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14
Q

Define the term “polymer”. (F)

A

A long chain molecule composed of many bonded monomers in a repeating pattern.

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15
Q

Define the term “nucleic acid”. (F)

A

Large polymers formed from nucleotides.

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16
Q

Define the term “polynucleotide”. (F)

A

A chain of nucleotides

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17
Q

Define the term “phosphodiester bond”. (F)

A

Covalent bonds formed between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the hydroxyl group of another.

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18
Q

State the name of the reaction that joins nucleotides to other nucleotides and the name of the reaction that breaks phosphodiester bonds. (F)

A
  • condensation reaction

- hydrolysis reaction

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19
Q

State 3 main types of activity for which cells require energy.

A
  • synthesis
  • transport
  • movement
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20
Q

Describe the structure of ATP and how it differs to ADP.

A
  • adenine base
  • ribose sugar
  • 3 phosphate groups (ADP has two)
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21
Q

State the full names of ATP and ADP.

A
  • adenosine triphosphate

- adenosine diphosphate

22
Q

List 2 similarities between the structure of ATP and DNA and RNA nucleotides.

A
  • adenine base

- ribose sugar (like RNA)

23
Q

List 2 differences between the structure of ATP and DNA and RNA nucleotides.

A
  • single nucleotide

- 3 phosphate groups

24
Q

Draw a reaction to show how energy is released from ATP to provide energy for cellular activities. (F)

A

ATP + H2O -> ADP + Pi + energy

25
Draw a reaction to show how energy is released from ATP to provide energy for cellular activities. (F)
ATP + H2O -> ADP + Pi + energy ATP is hydrolysed to form ADP and an inorganic phosphate ion.
26
State the names of the types of reactions involved in the interconversion of ATP and ADP.
- hydrolysis (ATP -> ADP) | - condensation (ADP -> ATP)
27
State where energy is released in the interconversion of ATP and ADP.
Into the cell.
28
State the role of respiration in the interconversion of ATP and ADP.
Energy released from the breakdown of fats and carbohydrates during respiration is used to convert ADP to ATP.
29
State 5 properties of ATP and explain why each makes it ideally suited to function as an energy transfer molecule. (F)
- small: moves easily into/within/out of a cell - water soluble: reactions take place in aqueous environment - phosphate bonds are at an intermediate energy level: large enough to be useful but doesn't waste energy as heat - energy released in small quantities: suitable for cellular needs - easily regenerated: recharge with energy
30
Define the term “phosphorylation”.
The reattachment of a phosphate group to an ADP molecule to create ATP.
31
Describe the structure of DNA. (F)
- sugar-phosphate backbone - double stranded - complementary base pairings - hydrogen bonds - deoxyribose - A, T, C, G - phosphate groups
32
Define the term “complementary base pairing” in relation to DNA. (F)
Specific hydrogen bonding between nucleic acid bases.
33
Define the term “sugar-phosphate backbone” in relation to DNA. (F)
The linkage of the phosphate group on C5' and the -OH group on C3 between adjacent nucleotides,
34
Define the term “strand” in relation to DNA. (F)
A chain of nucleotides
35
Define the term “double helix” in relation to DNA. (F)
The two strands of polynucleotides coiled into a helix.
36
Define the term “strand” in relation to DNA. (F)
A chain of nucleotides.
37
State the complementary base pairing rules. (F)
- adenine and thymine | - cytosine and guanine
38
Name the bond that holds complementary base pairs together together. (F)
Hydrogen bonds
39
State the number of bonds that hold each complementary base pair together. (F)
- adenine and thymine: 2 | - cytosine and guanine: 3
40
Explain why a DNA molecule has equal amounts of adenine and thymine and equal amounts of cytosine and guanine.
Complementary base pairing. If one of the pairs is present on one strand, the partner will be on the opposite strand.
41
Describe how purines and pyrimidines are arranged in the complementary base pairing rules.
Purines pair with pyrimidines.
42
Describe the significance of the double stranded, complementary base paired nature of DNA for its function.
Allows DNA to be copied and transcribed
43
Describe the significance of the sequence of bases in a DNA strand for its function.
Carries the genetic information of an organism.
44
Describe the steps in the isolation and purification of DNA by precipitation.
- grind sample in mortar and pestle - mix sample with detergent - add salt - add protease enzyme - add a layer of ethanol on top of the sample - (DNA appears as white strands between layer of sample and alcohol)
45
Explain the importance of the grinding the sample in the isolation and purification of DNA by precipitation.
Breaks down the cell walls.
46
Explain the importance of detergent in the isolation and purification of DNA by precipitation.
- breaks down cell surface membrane | - releases cellular contents
47
Explain the importance of salt in the isolation and purification of DNA by precipitation.
Breaks hydrogen bonds between DNA and water molecules.
48
Explain the importance of protease enzyme in the isolation and purification of DNA by precipitation.
- breaks down proteins associated with DNA in nuclei | - histone proteins
49
Explain the importance of ethanol in the isolation and purification of DNA by precipitation.
Causes DNA to precipitate out of the solution.
50
Explain the importance of keeping the temperature low in the isolation and purification of DNA by precipitation.
- prevents enzymes from breaking DNA down | - helps it precipitate better

Biology (23 decks)

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