Introduction to DNA and RNA

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to DNA and RNA structure, function, and replication, drawn from the lecture notes.

Deoxyribose

A five-carbon sugar molecule that lacks one oxygen atom compared to ribose.

Oxidation

A chemical process involving the loss of electrons or the loss of oxygen.

Nucleotide

The basic building block of nucleic acids, consisting of a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

Thymine

A nitrogenous base found in DNA that is replaced by uracil in RNA.

Uracil

A nitrogenous base found in RNA that replaces thymine found in DNA.

Base pairing rule

The rule stating that adenine pairs with thymine (or uracil in RNA) and guanine pairs with cytosine.

Purine

A type of nitrogenous base with a double-ring structure, including adenine and guanine.

Pyrimidine

A type of nitrogenous base with a single-ring structure, including cytosine, thymine, and uracil.

Hydrogen bond

A weak bond between two molecules that occurs between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom.

DNA replication

The process of copying the DNA molecule before cell division.

Mitosis

The process of cell division that results in two genetically identical daughter cells from a single parent cell.

Meiosis

The type of cell division that results in gametes, or sex cells, each with half the number of chromosomes.

Deoxy

Refers to the absence of oxygen, defining something as deoxidized.

Oxidation (in nucleic acids)

The loss of electrons, specifically referring to the loss of an entire hydroxyl ( OH ) group in nucleic acids.

Deoxyribose

A sugar that is characterized as ribose with one less oxygen.

Ribose

A five-carbon sugar found in RNA.

Nucleotides

The building blocks from which both DNA and RNA are constructed.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

A nucleic acid that contains deoxyribose sugar and the base thymine (T); typically structured as a double helix.

RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)

A nucleic acid that contains ribose sugar and the base uracil (U), which replaces thymine; typically single-stranded.

Common Nucleic Acid Bases

Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), Thymine (T) in DNA, and Uracil (U) in RNA.

Hydrogen Bonds

Chemical bonds that characterize base pairing within DNA structure, contributing to its stability.

Adenine-Thymine (A-T) Pairing

In DNA, Adenine pairs with Thymine via two hydrogen bonds.

Guanine-Cytosine (G-C) Pairing

In both DNA and RNA, Guanine pairs with Cytosine via three hydrogen bonds.

Purines

Double-ring structured nucleic acid bases, including Adenine (A) and Guanine (G).

Pyrimidines

Single-ring structured nucleic acid bases, including Cytosine (C), Thymine (T), and Uracil (U).

DNA Structure

A double helix.

RNA Structure

Typically single-stranded.

Watson and Crick

The scientists who deduced the structure of DNA.

Rosalind Franklin

Provided critical X-ray diffraction images that supported Watson and Crick's work on DNA structure.

X-ray Diffraction

A technique that provided visual evidence of DNA's helical structure and arrangement of atoms.

DNA Replication

The process before cell division (mitosis and meiosis) that unwinds the double helix, copies the DNA, and reforms two double-helical structures with new strands to ensure identical genetic information in daughter cells.

Semiconservative Method

The method of DNA replication where each new DNA molecule consists of one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.

Mitosis

The division of somatic cells to produce identical pairs of cells.

Meiosis

The division occurring in gametes to produce sex cells containing half the genetic material.