Introduction to DNA and Replication

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminology related to DNA structure, its components, and the process of DNA replication.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information.

Nucleotide

The monomer of DNA, composed of a phosphate group, deoxyribose sugar, and a nitrogen base.

The four nitrogen bases of DNA

Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G).

Base pairs

Pairs of nitrogenous bases in DNA that are held together by hydrogen bonds.

Chargaff's rules

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

Rosalind Franklin

Scientist who discovered the double helix structure of DNA through X-ray diffraction.

Watson and Crick

Scientists who proposed the 3D structure of DNA using Chargaff's rules and Franklin's photos.

Helicase

An enzyme that unzips DNA by breaking hydrogen bonds during DNA replication.

DNA Polymerase

An enzyme that adds corresponding nucleotides to form new DNA strands during replication.

Semi-conservative replication

The method of DNA replication in which each new strand contains one original strand and one new strand.