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