DNA Organisation in Cells Quiz

DNA Structure in Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

• Prokaryotic cells (bacteria) have unpackaged DNA, forming a circular chromosome.
• Eukaryotic cells organize their DNA with histone proteins into a compact structure known as chromatin.
• Eukaryotic DNA is structured into multiple linear chromosomes.

Cell Differentiation and Function

• Cellular differentiation occurs due to the expression of specific DNA sequences.
• Transcription involves RNA transcripts that enable the expression of DNA instructions.
• DNA replication allows genetic information to be inherited across generations.

Cladistics and Ancestry

• Base sequences in nucleic acids can illustrate shared ancestry among organisms.

Nucleic Acids and Their Functions

• Nucleic acids, essential organic biomolecules, store coded instructions for cellular characteristics and act as units of inheritance.
• DNA serves as the genetic material of all living organisms.
• RNA functions as a temporary copy of DNA instructions, facilitating protein production.

Types of Nucleic Acids

• Two major types of nucleic acids: DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) and RNA (Ribonucleic Acid).
• Nucleotides, the building blocks of nucleic acids, consist of:
  • A pentose sugar (5-carbon)
  • A phosphate group (PO4^3–)
  • A nitrogenous base (A, G, C, T/U)

Structure and Function of Nucleotides

• DNA serves as the master copy of genetic instructions and is crucial for inheritance.
• RNA acts as a temporary copy, important for producing proteins based on genetic instructions.

Nucleotide Composition and Arrangement

• The sugar's carbon atoms are numbered clockwise from 1 to 5.
• In a nucleotide, the nitrogenous base connects to the 1’-carbon, while the phosphate group attaches to the 5’-carbon.

Nitrogenous Bases

• Each nucleotide contains a nitrogenous base; these bases are organized into two primary groups.