Nucleotides, Nitrogenous Bases & DNA/RNA Study Notes

These flashcards cover the key vocabulary and concepts related to nucleotides, nitrogenous bases, and the differences between DNA and RNA as presented in the lecture notes.

Nucleotide

The basic building block of DNA and RNA, consisting of a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

Nitrogenous Base

Nitrogen-containing molecules that store genetic information in DNA and RNA. The 5 bases are Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), Thymine (T), and Uracil (U).

Purines

Nitrogenous bases with a two-ring structure; include Adenine (A) and Guanine (G).

Pyrimidines

Nitrogenous bases with a one-ring structure; include Cytosine (C), Thymine (T), and Uracil (U).

Base-pairing Rules

Rules stating that in DNA, Adenine pairs with Thymine (A–T) and Guanine pairs with Cytosine (G–C); in RNA, Adenine pairs with Uracil (A–U).

Deoxyribonucleotide

A nucleotide found in DNA, containing the sugar deoxyribose and the base Thymine (T).

Ribonucleotide

A nucleotide found in RNA, containing the sugar ribose and the base Uracil (U).

Phosphodiester Bond

A bond that forms the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA and RNA, connecting the 5′ phosphate of one nucleotide to the 3′ –OH of another.

3′ and 5′

Carbon positions in the sugar of a nucleotide; 3′ refers to the carbon with an –OH group, and 5′ refers to the carbon attached to the phosphate group.

DNA vs RNA

DNA contains deoxyribose and Thymine (T) and is double-stranded, while RNA contains ribose and Uracil (U) and is single-stranded.