Nucleic Acids

What is the fundamental property of genetic material crucial for heredity?

The ability of genetic material to be copied.

What polymer carries hereditary information in organisms?

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

What type of structure is DNA primarily classified as?

A double helix.

What key bases are found in DNA?

Adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T).

What process involves the unwinding of DNA strands for copying?

Replication.

What is the semiconservative nature of DNA replication?

Each daughter DNA molecule contains one strand of the original DNA.

What is the role of DNA polymerase in replication?

DNA polymerase synthesizes new DNA strands by pairing incoming nucleotides with their complementary bases on the template strand.

How do Okazaki fragments form during DNA replication?

They form along the lagging strand during discontinuous synthesis.

What is an error rate in DNA replication?

Less than 1 error in 10⁸ bases.

What are mutations?

Changes in the base sequence of a gene, which can occur during DNA replication.

What is one mechanism cells use to repair mutations?

Base excision repair (BER).

What is the primary function of mRNA in protein synthesis?

To carry the genetic information transcribed from DNA to ribosomes for translation.

What are the key enzymes involved in DNA replication?

Polymerases, helicases, and primases.

What base in RNA replaces thymine found in DNA?

Uracil (U).

What is the Central Dogma of Molecular Genetics?

The flow of genetic information: DNA → RNA → Protein.

What are the major types of RNA involved in protein synthesis?

Messenger RNA (mRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and transfer RNA (tRNA).

Describe the characteristics of the double helix structure of DNA.

Two antiparallel strands coiled around a common axis with a hydrophilic backbone and hydrophobic bases stacked inside.

What is the significance of the 2'-hydroxyl group in RNA?

It provides RNA with chemical reactivity, allowing for catalytic functions (ribozymes).

What are the main sources of mutations?

External sources like mutagens and internal errors during DNA replication.

How does RNA differ from DNA in structure?

RNA is usually single-stranded and contains ribose, while DNA is double-stranded and contains deoxyribose.