Nucleic acids

DNA

stores genetic information and is a polymer made of nucleotides.

Nucleotide

Consists of a pentose sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

Phosphodiester bond

Covalent bond formed between the phosphate of one nucleotide and the sugar of another.

Adenine

classified as a purine.

Uracil

A nitrogenous base used in RNA, replacing thymine.

Antiparallel

the orientation of DNA strands running in opposite directions (5' to 3' and 3' to 5').

Complementary base pairing

The pairing of purines (A, G) with pyrimidines (C, T, U) in DNA and RNA.

Semi-conservative replication

Type of DNA replication where each new DNA molecule contains one original and one new strand.

Nucleosomes

Structures that stabilize DNA in eukaryotic cells by wrapping DNA around histone proteins.

Hershey and Chase experiment

An experiment that demonstrated DNA is the genetic material by using radioactive labeling.

Chargaff’s Rule

Found that A = T and G = C within species, highlighting base-pair ratios and species diversity.

Stable base pairs

Result of equal-length pairing of purines and pyrimidines; contributes to DNA molecule stability.

Linker DNA

Connects nucleosomes in the compaction of eukaryotic DNA.