Nucleic Acids and DNA Replication Flashcards
What is a nucleotide?
A monomer that makes up a polynucleotide
Give 2 examples of polynucleotides
DNA and RNA
What is a DNA nucleotide made up of?
Phosphate, a pentose sugar and a nitrogen containing base
What is the pentose sugar in DNA?
deoxyribose
What are the nitrogen containing bases in DNA?
Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine
What does DNA stand for?
Deoxyribonucleic acid
How many strands does DNA have?
2
What sort of polynucleotide is DNA?
Long
What is the role of DNA?
It carries genetic information which codes for proteins
Why didn’t scientists believe DNA carried genetic information?
Because of its relatively simple structure
In a molecule of DNA how do the strand run?
Antiparallel
How are complimentary bases join in DNA?
By hydrogen bonds
What is the DNA backbone known as?
The sugar-phosphate backbone
How do nucleotides join to form a polynucleotide?
Condensation reaction
What bonds form between nucleotides?
Phosphodiester
What does A pair with in DNA?
T
How many hydrogen bonds form between A-T
2
What does C pair with?
G
How many hydrogen bonds form between C-G?
3