Nucleic Acids and DNA Structure Practice Flashcards

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering the chemical structure of nucleotides, nucleic acid strand orientation, and the organization of DNA and chromosomes based on the lecture notes.

Two forms of nucleic acids

DNA and RNA

Nucleotides

The building blocks that make up nucleic acids.

Nucleotide Sugar Carbon Count

The sugar in a nucleotide contains $5$ carbons.

Nitrogenous Base Attachment Site

Attached to the #$1$ carbon of the nucleotide sugar.

Phosphate Group Attachment Site

Attached to the #$5$ carbon of the nucleotide sugar.

Nucleotide Naming Convention

A nucleotide is named according to its nitrogenous base.

Nucleic Acid Chain Bonding

Nucleotides link the phosphate of one nucleotide to the #$3$ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide.

5' end

The end of the nucleic acid chain that has a free phosphate group.

3' end

The end of the nucleic acid chain that has a free #$3$ carbon.

DNA

An abbreviation for Deoxyribonucleic acid.

DNA Organization

Organized as $46$ chromosomes located in the nucleus of the cell.

Autosomal Chromosomes

There are $22$ pairs of autosomal chromosomes in a human cell.

Sex Chromosomes

The $X$ and $Y$ chromosomes.

Female Sex Chromosomes

Two $X$ chromosomes.

Male Sex Chromosomes

$X$ and $Y$ chromosomes.

Y Chromosome Inheritance

Inherited only from fathers to sons.

Mitochondrial DNA

Additional DNA present in the mitochondria that is only inherited from mothers to offspring.