The Structure of DNA Flashcards
What is the shape of DNA?
A double stranded helix of repeating units called nucleotides.
What is a nucleotide made up of?
Deoxyribose sugar
Phosphate
Base (adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine)
Where are the 5’ and 3’ found?
The 5’ is found at the phosphate and the 3’ is found at the sugar.
What type of bonds are found between the bases?
Hydrogen bonds.
What’s the structure of the 2 DNA strands?
Antiparallel DNA strands that are read in different directions.
What forms the genetic code?
The base sequence of DNA.
How is DNA organised in eukaryotes?
Linear chromosomes, in the nucleus, which are tightly coiled and packaged with associated proteins called histones.
Circular chromosomes in their mitochondria and chloroplasts.
What is the exception of eukaryotes?
Yeast as it also contains plasmids.
How is DNA organised in prokaryotes?
No nucleus.
Single circular chromosome and smaller circular plasmids in the cytoplasm.
