DNA

What does DNA stand for?

deoxyribonucleic acid

Where is DNA found?

nucleus

what does DNA do?

contains the instructions for building Protein

what is the monomer of DNA

nucleotide

what is a macromolucule of DNA

nucleic acid

what is the structure of a nucleotide

deoxyribose sugar, phosphate, nitrogenous base

what bond joins the phosphate group and the deoxyribose sugar in DNA and how is it formed

phosphoester bond joined in a condensation reaction

what bond joins the nitrogenous base and the deoxyribose sugar and how is it formed?

glycosidic bond formed in a condensation reaction

where is the phosphate group bonded to in a single nucleotide?

5'

where is the nitrogenous base bonded to in a single nucleotide?

1'

where is the phosphate group also bonded to in a polynucleotide chain?

bonded to 3' to join nucleotides together

Name the pyramidines in DNA

Cytosine and Thymine

name the pyramidines in RNA

cytosine and uracil

what is the structure of the pyramidines?

single ring

what is the structure of the purines?

double ring

what is the complementary base pair for guanine?

Cytosine

what is the complementary base pair for thymine?

Adenine

what is the complentary base pair for uracil?

adenine

Why do purines pair with pyrimidines?

Because their shape allows them to form hydrogen bonds and bond together, since they are complementary

How do nucleotides join together?

phosphodiester bonds

How do DNA strands run?

antiparallel

What does antiparallel mean?

side by side but in opposite directions

what are the functions of having two strands in DNA?

-maintains two copies of DNA in case of mutations

-protects bases

-required for semi-conservative replication

-improves molecular stability

what is the effect of DNA being stable

passes from generation to generation without change- rarely mutates

what is the advantage of two strands of DNA being joined by hydrogen bonds?

allows easy separation during protein synthesis and semi-conservative replication

why is DNA being a large molecule good for its function?

stores a lot of genetic replication

how is genetic information protected in DNA

by the sugar-phosphate backbone

what is advantageous about base pairing

DNA is able to transfer the information as mRNA

what is the structure of RNA

single stranded and very short

what is the sugar in RNA

ribose

what are the three types of RNA

rRNA, mRNA, tRNA

what is the function of rRNA

makes up ribosomes along with proteins

What does rRNA stand for?

ribosomal ribonucleic acid

What does tRNA stand for?

transfer ribonucleic acid

what is function of tRNA

binds to mRNA to make amino acid chain

what does mRNA stand for

messenger ribonucleic acid

what is the function of mRNA

To carry information from DNA out of the nucleus to the ribosomes

What elements do DNA nucleotides contain?

CHONP

which parts of a nucleotide do not participate in polymerisation?

the nitrogenous bases

Why is DNA a stable molecule?

double helix structure

Compare the structure of DNA and RNA

both are comprised of nucleotides, however, DNA consists of two strands in a double helix, whilst RNA is one strand. RNA strands are much shorter than DNA strands. DNA has a deoxyribose sugar, whilst RNA has a ribose sugar in its nucleotide

compare the length of RNA and DNA

DNA is a much longer polymer than RNA

compare the locations of DNA and RNA

DNA is found in the nucleus, small amount is also present in the mitochondria. RNA is formed in the nucleolus and then moves to the ribosomes or specialised regions of the cytoplasm

Why is RNA less stable than DNA?

It has an extra Hydroxyl Group on the 2' carbon making it more likely to participate in chemical reactions, it is not stable in alkaline solutions. RNA's larger helical structure makes it susceptible to attack by enzymes

what is DNA's relative senstivity to ultraviolet in comparison to RNA

DNA is more vulnerable