TEST 3 - NUCLEIC ACIDS

Question 1

Nucleotide

Answer 1

DNA and RNA are made up of nucleotides to form a polymer
- Phosphate Group: Acidic, negatively charged.
- Pentose sugar: 5 carbon atoms
- Nitrogenous Base: one of 4-5 different bases that contain nitrogen:
> Purins: 2 Rings fused
> Pyrimidines: Rings

Question 2

Back Bone of DNA and RNA

Answer 2

• Condensation reaction occurs between the SUGAR and PHOSPHATE molecule
• 2 waters released
• The resulting bond is a Phosphodiester Bond

Question 3

DNA

Answer 3

• DNA is a double helix made of two antiparallel strands
• Backbone is hydrophilic
• Nitrogenous bases are hydrophobic
• Covalent bonds are formed between the phosphate and sugar
• Hydrogen bonds are formed between the corresponding base pairs

Question 4

Complementary base pairing

Answer 4

• A with T
• C with G
• Hydrogen bonding: weak, electrostatic

Question 5

DNA base sequence

Answer 5

Genetic information is stored in the base sequence of one of the two strands of the DNA molecule. Any sequence base is possible: A, C, G, T

Question 6

Conservation of genetic code

Answer 6

• Coded forms
• Decoded during protein synthesis
• 3 bases = codons -> one specific AA