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What is a nucleic acid
Polymers of nucleotides which contain genetic information
How is DNA protected from mutations
By forming a double strand
What base pairs does DNA contain
Cytosine, Thymine, Guanine, Adenine
What is the function of mRNA
To transport information from nucleus to ribosomes
What is the function of tRNA
To bring the amino acid to a ribosome
What is the function of rRNA
To form part of the ribosome structure with proteins
What bases make up RNA
Adenine, Uracil, Guanine, Cytosine
What is the full name of DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid
What is the full name of RNA
Ribonucleic acid
What is the general function of DNA and RNA
To build proteins and carry information
What is the function of DNA
To hold or store genetic information
What is the function of RNA
To transfer the genetic code from the nucleus to the ribosomes
What molecules make up a nucleotide
A pentose sugar, a nitrogen containing base and a phosphate group
Define nucleotides
Repeating monomers of DNA and RNA
What is the difference between an RNA and DNA sugar
DNA contains deoxyribose sugar with H and the second position, RNA contains ribose sugar with OH in the second position
What is the difference between DNA and RNA bases
RNA contains a uracil base instead of a thymine
Define and give examples of purines
A nitrogenous base molecules with a double ring structure, such as adenine and guanine
Define and give examples of pyrimidines
A nitrogenous base molecule with a single ring structure, such as cytosine, thymine and uracil
Describe a difference between the structure of DNA and RNA
DNA is double stranded in a double helix, RNA is relatively short single strands
What bond forms between nucleotides
A condensation reaction forms a phosphodiester bond
How can the double helix strands be described
As antiparallel strands
Describe the joining of two bases
Complementary base pairings are joined with hydrogen bonds
How many bonds does thymine and adenine have
2 hydrogen bonds
How many bonds does cytosine and guanine have
3 hydrogen bonds
Describe an RNA polymer
A relatively short, singular polynucleotide strand
Name the types of RNA
messenger RNA, transfer RNA and ribosomal RNA
Define a ribosome
A small organelle which are the site of protein synthesis and translation
Where are ribosomes found
Either free in the cytoplasm or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum
Describe the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes
Eukaryotic ribosomes are 80s (60&40 subunits), prokaryotic ribosomes are 70s (30&50 subunits)
Describe the structure of a ribosome
A small and large subunit, where the large unit is the sight of translation
Who discovered DNA
Friedrich Miescher in 1800s
Who discovered the double helix structure of DNA
Watson and Crick in 1953
Describe why DNA nucleotides are added in the 5’ to 3’ direction
DNA polymerase is specific and the 5’ and 3’ ends of nucleotides are different shapes and therefore can only be complementary with the 3’ end of a developing strand
Describe how the structure of RNA differs from DNA
RNA is single stranded, contains ribose sugar, uracil instead of thymine
Suggest how changing the sequence of DNA nucleotides can affect the final product the DNA codes for
Different sequence of amino acids produces a different tertiary structure so the protein can no longer function
