2.3 Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to nucleotides, nucleic acids, DNA and RNA function, and processes involved in protein synthesis.

Nucleotide

A building block of nucleic acids, consisting of a pentose sugar, a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; a double helix composed of two polynucleotide strands carrying genetic information.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid; a single-stranded polymer of nucleotides that transfers genetic information from DNA to ribosomes.

Phosphodiester bond

A chemical bond that links nucleotides together in a nucleic acid through condensation reactions.

ATP (Adenosine triphosphate)

A nucleotide derivative that serves as the main energy currency of the cell; composed of ribose, adenine, and three phosphate groups.

Semi-conservative replication

The method by which DNA replicates itself, producing two copies with one original and one new strand.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in DNA or RNA that encodes for a specific amino acid.

Introns

Non-coding regions of DNA that do not code for proteins.

Exons

Coding regions of DNA that are translated into proteins.

Transcription

The process of synthesizing mRNA from a DNA template.

Translation

The process where ribosomes use mRNA to assemble amino acids into a polypeptide chain.