A1.2 Nucleic Acids (SL)

A1 2.1 Describe the importance of DNA

Living organisms use DNA to store genetic information and pass it on from parent to offspring

Viruses

Are not living, cannot reproduce themselves, use RNA

A1 2.2 Nucleotide

Monomer of nucleic acids

Made of a phosphate group, nitrogenous base, and sugar bond by covalent bonds

A1.2.3 Describe the bonding of the sugar phosphate backbone

• Covalant bonds formed between phosphate of one nucleotide and pentose sugar of the next nucleotide

• Forms a strong sugar phosphate backbone

A1.2.4 Compare the bases in DNA and RNA

• All bases contain nitrogen

• Any 2 nucleotides can combine

• Complementary base pairing

• 4 types of nucleotides

A1.2.5 Differentiate between a polymer and a monomer

Polymer: Single unbranched chain of nucleotides bound by hydrogen bonds

Monomer: Single nucleotide

Describe a Condensation reaction

Two molecules combined to form a single polymer by two OH groups and one water removed, forming a covalent bond

A1.2.6 Describe the structure of the DNA double helix

• Complementary base pairing

• Helical shape

• Antiparellel shape

A1.2.7 Compare DNA and RNA

• DNA has two strands while RNA has one strand

• DNA has Adenine while RNA has Uracil

• DNA has deoxyribose sugar while RNA has a ribose sugar

A1.2.8 Describe how complementary base pairing is used in replication and expression

• Allows an exact copy of DNA to be made in replication

• Serves as a guide for nucleotides to be added to form 2 identical strands

• Each section of DNA carries genetic information by making an identical RNA copy in transcription

A1 2.9 Explain how DNA is able to store a limitless capacity of diverse information

Genetic information is stored in base sequence that is limitless in order

• 4^n possibilities for each base

A1 2.10 Describe the significance of codons in the genetic code

• Group of 3 bases

• Specify one specific amino acid

• Start and stop codons

Explain why DNA is deemed the universal genetic code

• All living organisms/ viruses share the same genetic code

• Each have very different versions of it

Compare and contrast the functions of DNA and RNA

• DNA passes hereditary information between generations of cells and codes for making RNA during transcription

• RNA codes for making protein during translation, mrNA, rRNA, and tRNA involved in protein synthesis