Nucleic Acids Lecture

This set of flashcards covers key terminology and concepts related to nucleic acids, including their structures, functions, and roles in heredity.

Nucleotide

The basic building blocks of nucleic acids, comprising a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group.

Nitrogenous Bases

The components of nucleotides that include purines and pyrimidines, which are responsible for base pairing in DNA and RNA.

Purine

A type of nitrogenous base with a double-ring structure; includes adenine (A) and guanine (G).

Pyrimidine

A type of nitrogenous base with a single-ring structure; includes cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U).

Deoxyribose

The pentose sugar found in DNA nucleotides, which lacks one oxygen atom compared to ribose.

Ribose

The pentose sugar found in RNA nucleotides.

Nucleoside

A molecule consisting of a nitrogenous base and a pentose sugar, without the phosphate group.

Phosphodiester Bond

The bond that links nucleotides together via the phosphate group and the hydroxyl group of adjacent sugars, forming the backbone of nucleic acids.

Complementary Base Pairing

The specific pairing of nitrogenous bases in DNA and RNA: adenine with thymine (or uracil) and guanine with cytosine.

Gene

A segment of DNA that encodes for a specific protein or function; can be coding (exons) or non-coding (introns).

RNA Types

Includes messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), small nuclear RNA (snRNA), micro RNA (miRNA), and small interfering RNA (siRNA).

Replication

The process of copying DNA prior to cell division, ensuring each daughter cell receives an identical copy.

Transcription

The process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template.

Translation

The process by which mRNA is decoded and translated into a polypeptide or protein in the ribosome.

Nucleosome

A structural unit of DNA consisting of a segment of DNA wound around a core of histone proteins.