DNA and RNA Structure & Replication

Flashcards covering key concepts from DNA and RNA structure and replication.

What is the function of DNA?

Instructions for making proteins that build and maintain a living organism.

What are the four nitrogenous bases in DNA?

Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, and Cytosine.

What process do bacteria use to reproduce?

Binary fission.

In DNA, what are the two types of nitrogenous bases?

Purines and Pyrimidines.

What is the role of helicase in DNA replication?

Unzips the two strands of DNA at the origin of replication.

What is the structure of DNA?

A double helix made of two strands held together by hydrogen bonds between the bases.

What is the difference between leading and lagging strands during DNA replication?

The leading strand is built continuously in the 5' to 3' direction, while the lagging strand is built in short fragments known as Okazaki fragments.

What is semi-conservative replication?

A model of DNA replication where each new DNA molecule has one original strand and one new strand.

What are plasmids?

Smaller circular chromosomes in bacteria that contain additional DNA instructions.

What does RNA stand for and how does it differ from DNA?

RNA stands for Ribo Nucleic Acid; it has ribose sugar, is single-stranded, and has uracil instead of thymine.