Biology Chapter 6: Nucleic Acids Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What are the polymers of nucleic acids?

Nucleotides (correct)

Amino acids

Fatty acids

Monosaccharides

What three parts do the monomers of nucleic acids consist of?

Phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

What provides directions for its own replication and directs cell activities?

DNA

What does a gene provide directions to build?

RNA Signup and view all the answers

What is the repeating backbone of a polynucleotide?

Sugar-phosphate Signup and view all the answers

What is the structure of DNA?

Double-helix Signup and view all the answers

RNA usually consists of how many strands?

Single Signup and view all the answers

How many kinds of DNA nucleotides are there?

A, T, C, G Signup and view all the answers

Which parts of DNA nucleotides are always the same? Which part changes?

Sugar and Phosphate groups; Base Signup and view all the answers

During DNA replication, each new DNA molecule contains one strand from the _ DNA molecule and one _ strand.

Original; Newly synthesized Signup and view all the answers

How is DNA replication described?

Semi-conservative Signup and view all the answers

What are the differences between DNA and RNA?

DNA: AGCT, double stranded, deoxyribose; RNA: AGCU, single stranded, and ribose Signup and view all the answers

What happens during transcription?

RNA nucleotides line up with their complementary DNA partners, transcribing the information in DNA into RNA. Signup and view all the answers

What does mRNA do?

Moves from the nucleus to the cytoplasm following RNA processing. Signup and view all the answers

Where does translation occur?

At the ribosomes in the cell cytoplasm Signup and view all the answers

What are involved in translation?

Ribosomes, Anticodon, tRNA, and Amino Acids. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during RNA processing?

<ol> <li>A modified guanine nucleotide is added to the beginning of the RNA strand as a cap. 2. Segments of the RNA strand that do not actually code for the protein are removed. 3. Segments of the RNA that do code for the protein are reconnected. 4. Adenine nucleotides are added to the end of the RNA strand, forming a tail.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

The central dogma follows the flow of information from?

DNA to protein Signup and view all the answers

The key process for information storage and transfer to offspring cells is?

DNA replication Signup and view all the answers

What do tRNA molecules do?

Translate mRNA to produce a specific amino acid sequence. Signup and view all the answers

Why does a gene NOT constantly churn out the same protein at all times in every cell?

<ol> <li>mRNA processing can allow one gene to produce several different proteins. 2. Genes are constantly being turned on and off through the process of gene regulation.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

MicroRNA molecules can bind to mRNA transcripts, preventing them from producing proteins.

True Signup and view all the answers

What mutation is the LEAST likely to result in harmful changes to cells?

Silent mutations Signup and view all the answers

What does a nonsense mutation do?

It changes an amino acid codon to a stop codon, which can result in the production of a shorter protein product, almost always defective. Signup and view all the answers

What is a lump of abnormal cells that remains at its original site called?

Benign tumor Signup and view all the answers

What is an abnormally growing mass of cells that is actively spreading through the body called?

Malignant tumor Signup and view all the answers

What is the spread of cancer cells from their site of origin to other sites in the body called?

Metastasis Signup and view all the answers

An individual with a malignant tumor is said to have?

Cancer Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a transgenic organism?

A bacterium with a human gene for producing insulin Signup and view all the answers

What cuts DNA at specific nucleotide sequences?

Restriction enzymes Signup and view all the answers

The process of accurately amplifying a sample of DNA is called?

The polymerase chain reaction Signup and view all the answers

What does gel electrophoresis separate pieces of DNA based on?

Size Signup and view all the answers

Match the following to their corresponding terms:

Supplemental appendix = Plasmid Fluorescent nucleotide probe = Visualizing gene location Primers = Set endpoints for PCR PCR = Copying small DNA regions Signup and view all the answers

What percent of the human genome encodes for proteins?

1.5% Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are polymers made up of nucleotides.
Nucleotides consist of a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

DNA and RNA

DNA provides instructions for its own replication and directs cellular activities, including protein synthesis.
RNA is produced from genes and is responsible for conveying genetic instructions into the amino acid sequence of proteins.
DNA has a double-helix structure with complementary base pairs: cytosine pairs with guanine, and adenine pairs with thymine.
RNA usually exists as a single polynucleotide strand.

DNA Nucleotides

There are four types of DNA nucleotides: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).
The sugar and phosphate groups in DNA nucleotides remain constant; however, the nitrogenous base varies.

DNA Replication

Each daughter DNA molecule in replication contains one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.
DNA replication is characterized as semi-conservative.

Differences Between DNA and RNA

DNA nucleotides comprise AGCT, are double-stranded, and use deoxyribose sugar.
RNA nucleotides contain AGCU, are single-stranded, and use ribose sugar.

Transcription and Translation

During transcription, RNA nucleotides align with complementary DNA strands, resulting in RNA synthesis.
mRNA moves from the nucleus to the cytoplasm after processing.
Translation occurs at ribosomes in the cytoplasm and involves ribosomes, tRNA, anticodons, and amino acids.

RNA Processing

RNA processing adds a modified guanine cap, removes non-coding segments, reconnects coding segments, and adds adenine tails.

Central Dogma and Gene Regulation

The central dogma illustrates the flow of genetic information from DNA to protein.
DNA replication is crucial for information storage and transmission to offspring cells.
tRNA translates mRNA into specific amino acid sequences, varying protein production through gene regulation and mRNA processing.

Mutations and Tumors

MicroRNA can inhibit mRNA, preventing protein synthesis.
Silent mutations are least likely to disrupt cellular function, while nonsense mutations create prematurely truncated proteins, typically defective.
Benign tumors are abnormal cell growths that remain localized, while malignant tumors spread throughout the body.
Metastasis refers to the movement of cancer cells from their original site to other body parts.

Biotechnology

A transgenic organism contains genes from another species, like bacteria engineered to produce human insulin.
Restriction enzymes cut DNA at specific sites, while the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifies DNA samples.
Gel electrophoresis separates DNA fragments based on size.

Genetic Probes and Primers

Fluorescent nucleotide probes visualize specific gene locations on chromosomes.
Primers define the boundaries for DNA portions copied in PCR.

Human Genome

Only 1.5% of the human genome is responsible for encoding proteins, emphasizing the complexity and regulation of gene expression.

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Description

Test your knowledge on nucleic acids with these flashcards based on Chapter 6. The quiz covers essential concepts such as the components of nucleotides, the structure of DNA, and the role of genes in protein synthesis. Perfect for reinforcing key terms and definitions in molecular biology.