Section 1: Chapter 2: Nucleic Acids Flashcards
What is the structure of a RNA molecule?
- Ribose pentose sugar.
- Phosphate group.
- bases AUCG.
What bond forms between nucleotides ( between sugar and phosphate)?
Phosphodiester bond.
What is the function of RNA?
- Transfer DNA from DNA to ribosomes.
- Protein synthesis.
Who discovered the structure of DNA?
Watson and Crick.
What is the structure of DNA?
- Deoxyribose pentose sugar.
- bases ATCG.
- Double stranded.
What bond holds together the two strands of DNA?
Hydrogen bonds.
What makes DNA stable?
- Phosphodiester backbone protects reactive bases.
- 3 hydrogen bonds between C-G, so the more C-G pairings, the more stable the molecule.
What is the function of DNA?
Holding hereditary material and passing genetic info to cells.
How is DNA adapted for it’s function? (3 points)
- Stable so rarely ever mutations.
- H bonds weak so strands can be repeated in DNA replication and protein synthesis.
- Large - large amount of info.
What does semi-conservative replication mean?
One DNA strand is conserved, one new strand is created.
Describe the process of DNA replication.
1) DNA helicase breaks the H bonds between strands.
2) free nucleotides bind the comp bases on the template strand.
3) DNA polymerase makes phosphodiester bonds between newly attached nucleotides.
What does ATP stand for?
Adenosine triphosphate.
What is the structure of ATP?
- Adenine.
- Ribose pentose sugar.
- 3 phosphates.
How does ATP release energy?
Bonds between phosphate groups very unstable, so break easily, to release energy.
What is the role of ATP?
Immediate energy source.
What 4 processes is ATP used in?
- Metabolic processes.
- Movement - muscle contraption.
- Active transport - changes shape of carrier proteins.
- Secretion - forms lysosomes.
What are the 5 key properties of water?
1) Metabolite.
2) Solvent.
3) High latent capacity.
4) Large latent heat of vaporisation.
5) Strong cohesion.
What is mean’t by saying water is a good solvent?
Many substances can dissolve in it.
What is mean’t by saying water has a high specific heat capacity?
Lots of energy is required to raise the temperature of water.
Because heat energy used to break H bonds.
Good as organisms internal temps stay constant.
Can polar molecules dissolve in water?
Yes.
Can non-polar molecules dissolve in water?
No.
What is mean’t by saying water has a large latent heat of vaporisation?
Lots of energy is required to turn water from liquid to gas.
Good for cooling. When we sweat, lots of heat energy is transferred from our skin to the sweat to evaporate it.
Where are inorganic ions found?
Cytoplasm.
What are some example of inorganic ions?
- Hydrogen - in enzymes.
- Iron - in haemoglobin.
- Sodium - in co-transport.
- Phosphate - in DNA and ATP.
