Nucleic Acids Vocab

What is DNA?

Deoxyribonucleic acid - stores genetic information

What are the NITROGENOUS BASES?

Adenine, Thymine/Uracil, Cytosine, Guanine

What is a GENE?

A specific sequence of nucleotides that holds hereditary information

What are AMINO ACIDS?

The building blocks of protein that determine the function of a cell

What are POLYMERS?

long chains of covalently bonded monomers

What are NUCLEOTIDES?

The monomers of DNA/RNA that consist of a phosphate group, pentose sugar, and nitrogenous base

What is a CONDENSATION REACTION?

A reaction in which a water molecule is released during a covalent bond

What does COMPLEMENTARY BASE PAIRING ensure?

Adenine will always bond with thymine/uracil while cytosine will always bond with guanine

What is the ORIENTATION OF THE SECOND STRAND OF DNA in relation to the first?

Anti-parallel

What is a TRIPLET CODON?

A group of three nitrogenous bases that codes for amino acids depending on the order

What is the DIRECTIONALITY OF DNA AND RNA?

5 carbon to 3 carbon

What is a HISTONE?

A protein which DNA wraps around

What is RNA?

Ribonucleic acid - translates and expresses genetic information

What is the ROLE OF ENZYMES IN DNA REPLICATION?

Helicase unwinds strands while polymerase adds nitrogenous bases

What are the STEPS OF GENE EXPRESSION?

Polymerase unwinds strands and builds a matching mRNA strand, tRNA bring matching amino acids for the mRNA strand, proteins are coded for

What is a VIRUS?

an infectious agent composed of genetic material inside a protein coat with limited functions of life

What is HOMEOSTASIS?

the process where living organisms maintain stable internal conditions

What is METABOLISM?

the process where organisms convert resources into energy