Untitled Flashcards Set

Nucleic Acids

Biomolecules essential for all forms of life, including DNA and RNA.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a molecule that plays a role in gene expression and regulation.

Nucleotide

The building block of nucleic acids, composed of a 5-carbon sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

5 Carbon Sugar

A type of sugar molecule found in nucleotides; ribose in RNA and deoxyribose in DNA.

Phosphate Group

A component of nucleotides that forms the sugar-phosphate backbone of nucleic acids.

Nitrogenous Base

A molecule that contains nitrogen and acts as a building block of DNA and RNA.

Purines

Nitrogenous bases that include Adenine (A) and Guanine (G).

Pyrimidines

Nitrogenous bases that include Cytosine (C), Thymine (T), and Uracil (U).

Base Pairing

The specific pairing of nitrogenous bases in DNA and RNA; A with T/U and C with G.

Complementary Base Pairs

The pairs of nitrogenous bases that bond together, ensuring accurate replication of DNA.

Sugar-Phosphate Backbone

The structure formed by the sugar and phosphate groups in a nucleic acid, providing stability.

Double Helix

The twisted ladder shape of DNA, formed by two polynucleotide strands.

Antiparallel Strands

The orientation of the two strands of DNA running in opposite directions.

Chargaff's Rules

The observation that in DNA, the amount of Adenine equals Thymine and Guanine equals Cytosine.

Rosalind Franklin

Scientist known for her X-ray crystallography work that demonstrated the helical structure of DNA.

Watson-Crick Model

The model of DNA structure proposed by James Watson and Francis Crick, highlighting its double-helix form.

X-ray Crystallography

A technique used to determine the atomic structure of a crystal, revealing DNA's helical structure.

Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine 1962

Awarded to James D. Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice H.F. Wilkins for their discoveries regarding DNA structure.