Polymers, Amino Acids, Proteins and DNA

Question 1

DNA stands for…

Answer 1

Deoxyribose nucleic acid

Question 2

DNA is a polymer made of which monomers?

Answer 2

Nucleotides

Question 3

What is a nucleotide composed of?

Answer 3

Phosphate, Sugar and Base

Question 4

4 bases in DNA…

Answer 4

Adenine
Guanine
Cytosine
Thymine

Question 5

DNA exists as a double helix held together by H bonds. How many bonds form between adenine and thymine?

Answer 5

2 hydrogen bonds

Question 6

DNA exists as a double helix held together by H bonds. How many bonds form between cytosine and guanine?

Answer 6

3 hydrogen bonds

Question 7

What polymerisation forms the sugar-phosphate backbone in DNA using nucleotides as monomers?

Answer 7

Condensation polymerisation

Question 8

What is cis-platin used for and give its formula?

Answer 8

Anti-cancer drug
[PtCl2(NH3)2]

Question 9

What is cancer?

Answer 9

Uncontrolled DNA replication to form tumours

Question 10

How does cis-platin work as an anti-cancer drug?

Answer 10

CIS isomer has 2 Cl ligands next to each other and 2 NH3 ligands.
It works by binding to the DNA in cancerous cells and replaces its Cl ligands with two N atoms on guanine bases.
Creates distortion, preventing DNA from unwinding so cancer cells cannot replicate.

Question 11

What NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECT may cis-platin also be part of?

Answer 11

May bind to DNA in healthy cells causing unwanted side effects.

Question 12

How can we reduce the side effects of using cis-platin as an anti-cancer drug?

Answer 12

Giving in low doses
Using a more targeted delivery of drug to reduce attack on healthy cells