Nucleic Acids and DNA Function

These flashcards cover critical vocabulary and concepts related to nucleic acids and DNA function based on the lecture notes.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information.

5' End

The end of a nucleic acid strand that has a free phosphate group attached to the fifth carbon of the sugar.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid present in all living cells that plays a key role in the synthesis of proteins.

Phosphodiester linkage

A chemical bond that links nucleotides together in the backbone of nucleic acids.

Antiparallel

Describes the opposite orientation of the two strands of DNA, where one strand runs 5' to 3' and the other runs 3' to 5'.

Base pairing

The specific hydrogen bonding between nucleotide bases, where adenine pairs with thymine and guanine pairs with cytosine.

Watson-Crick model

The double-helix model of DNA proposed by James Watson and Francis Crick, identifying the structure and base pairing.

Chargaff's rules

The observation that in DNA, the amount of adenine equals thymine and the amount of guanine equals cytosine.

Major groove

The larger of the two grooves in the DNA double helix where the backbones are further apart.

Minor groove

The smaller of the two grooves in the DNA double helix where the backbones are closer together.

A-form DNA

A right-handed double helix form of DNA that is more compact and occurs under dehydrated conditions.

B-form DNA

The most common form of double-stranded DNA observed in biological cells, characterized by its right-handed helix.

Z-form DNA

A left-handed double helical form of DNA characterized by a zig-zag sugar-phosphate backbone.

Semi-conservative replication

The mechanism of DNA replication where each daughter DNA molecule consists of one old strand and one new strand.

Gene

A segment of DNA that encodes the information for the synthesis of a specific functional product.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism.

Phenotype

The physical expression or characteristics of an organism's genotype.