BIOL 111 DNA

What are nucleic acids?

Polymers of nucleotides that contain a nitrogenous base, a phosphate group, and a sugar molecule

What bond joins nucleic acids?

A phosphodiester bond

What groups do DNA and RNA include, respectively?

H (deoxy-) and OH (ribonuc-)

How does ribose chemically behave?

It has extra oxygen groups and is more soluble in water, which makes it more reactive but less stable

What are the functions of RNA?

It can act as a messenger (mRNA), can behave as an enzyme, and has a high turn over

How does deoxyribose chemically behave?

It has less oxygens and is more stable overall

What is the function of DNA?

Long term storage of genetic information

What are the two types of nitrogenous bases?

Purine (double ring) and pyrimidine (single ring) bases

What are the two purine bases?

Guanine and adenine

What are the three pyrimidine bases?

Thymine, cytosine, and uracil

What is special about cytosine?

It can deaminate into uracil and form mutations

Between thymine and uracil, which is more stable and costs more to make?

Thymine

What kind of bond attaches nucleotide bases?

Hydrogen bonds

Why do guanine and cytosine have a stronger bond than adenine and thymine?

Because of a 3rd hydrogen bond