Section 1 - DNA Flashcards
Who took part in the discovery of DNA?
James Watson, Francis Crik, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind Franklin.
What is DNA?
DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid.
What is the function of DNA?
The molecule that stores genetic information in an organism.
What is a nucleotide? What does it consist of?
A nucleotide is most basic building block/sub-unit of nucleic acids.
Each nucleotide has a phosphate, pentose sugar, and nitrogen base.
What is the structure of DNA?
A DNA molecule is made of 2 long strands bonded together (Double Helix).
Each strand consists of repeated units called a nucleotide.
The rungs (steps) of the DNA ladder are made from pairs of bases and are connected by hydrogen bonds.
The 2 long strand is made up if alternating phosphate and sugar molecules (sugar phosphate backbone).
Chromosomes are strands of?
DNA located in the nucleus.
How many chromosomes are in a human cell? How many pair does it have?
46 chromosomes, 23 pairs (from both mom and dad).
What are genes?
Genes are sections of DNA strands. They contain info about the characteristics you will inherit.
What are alleles?
Different forms of genes.
What are the 4 types of nitrogen bases in DNA?
Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, and Cytosine.
Base pairs hold the 2 strands of the DNA helix together. What are the rules for base pairing?
Adenine = Thymine
Cytosine = Guanine
What is the relationship between genes and proteins?
Genes contain the instrument for making proteins.
What are proteins made of?
Amino acids.
Each amino acid is coded by..
It’s own special sequence of 3 bases called a triplet or a condon the order of triplets/condons in a gene determines the sequence of amino acids.
What connects the bases together?
The 2 long chains of alternating sugar and phosphate molecules are connected by hydrogen bonds between the bases.
What are 2 types of nucleic acids?
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
What are polymers? (DNA, RNA)
Two long polymers (strands) in DNA that form the double helix.
Single stranded polymer of nucleotides in RNA
What are monomers? (DNA, RNA)
The monomers of nucleic acids are nucleotides. The nucleotides in DNA and RNA are very similar.
What is the difference between polymers and monomers?
Monomers are the building blocks of polymers (nucleotides).
Polymers are long molecules that contain repeating units of monomers.
Nucleotides contain 2 types of nitrogen contain bases. What are they called?
Purines and Pyrimidines.
Purines have..
A double ring structure.
Pyrimidines have..
A single ring structure.
What are the purine bases in DNA and RNA?
Adenine and Guanine.
What are the pyrimidine bases in DNA?
Cytosine and Thymine.
What are the pyrimidine bases in RNA?
Cytosine and Uracil.
What is the function of RNA?
To convert the stored information in DNA into proteins.
What is the structure of RNA?
RNA consists of a single stranded polymer of nucleotides.
Contains the pentose sugar ribose and contains the organic bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil.
What is the nitrogen base pairing in RNA?
Uracil = Adenine
Cytosine = Guanine
RNA is involved in?
Protein synthesis.
What are the differences between DNA and RNA
- DNA has the pentose sugar deoxyribose and RNA has the pentose sugar ribose.
- Nitrogen bases: DNA - AGCT, RNA - UACG
- DNA is made up of two long strands and are bonded by hydrogen bonds. RNA is made up of a single strand.
What are the similarities between DNA and RNA?
Both contain nucleotides, involved in protein, contains phosphate group, has 4 nitrogen bases.
Pentose sugar is..
A sugar with 5 carbons in the central ring.
