26 Questions
Who discovered the DNA structure?
Watson and Crick
What was initially thought to be the genetic material in chromosomes?
Proteins
Which experiments led to the identification of DNA as the genetic material?
Purification of DNA from Pneumococcus bacteria
What did Oswald Avery, Colin MacLeod, and Maclyn McCarty identify as the genetic material?
DNA
What is the main function of DNA in the cell?
Carrying all genetic codes
Which event revolutionized the field of genetics and led to advancements in biotechnology and medicine?
Completion of the Human Genome Project
What are the unit structures of nucleic acids composed of?
Nitrogenous base, 5-carbon sugar, and a phosphate group
What is the difference between DNA and RNA in terms of sugar composition?
DNA has deoxyribose sugar while RNA has ribose sugar
Which project aimed to determine the entire human genome sequence within 15 years?
The Human Genome Project
What is the structure of DNA based on X-ray crystallography data proposed by Watson and Crick?
Double helix
What type of bonds are formed by the polymerization of nucleotides in nucleic acids?
Phospho-diester bonds
What did the identification of DNA as the genetic material lead to?
Revolutionized field of genetics
What is the main difference between purine and pyrimidine bases?
'Purine bases have a double ring structure, while pyrimidine bases have a single ring structure'
Who proposed the double helix structure of DNA?
James Watson and Francis Crick
What is the specific base pairing in nucleic acids?
A pairs with T and U, G pairs with C
Which form of DNA exists in GC-rich regions?
Z-form helix
What can cause DNA denaturation?
Heating or chemicals
Which RNA molecule acts as a template for protein synthesis?
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
What replaces Thymine in RNA?
Uracil
What type of bond links nucleotides together in nucleic acids?
Phospho-diester bond
Which type of RNA brings amino acids to the growing protein chain?
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
What is the primary structure of RNA?
Linear polynucleotide
Which type of RNA forms the ribosomes that catalyze protein synthesis?
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
What is the structure of double-stranded DNA?
B-form helix
What are nucleic acids composed of?
Purine or pyrimidine bases linked to phosphorylated sugars
What does the phosphate group link to in a nucleotide?
The 5’ carbon of the nucleoside
Study Notes
- Nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides, which are composed of purine or pyrimidine bases linked to phosphorylated sugars (nucleotide backbone).
- Nucleotides contain one phosphate group linked to the 5’ carbon of the nucleoside, and are linked together through condensation reactions forming phospho-diester bonds.
- Nucleic acids have a specific base pairing system: A always pairs with T and U, and G always pairs with C.
- Nucleic acids have a double-stranded structure, with each strand containing all the information needed for replication.
- DNA exists in three primary forms: B-form helix (most common), A-form helix, and Z-form helix (GC-rich regions).
- DNA denaturation can occur through heating or chemicals, resulting in two separate strands.
- RNA is a linear polynucleotide, generally single stranded, with Uracil replacing Thymine.
- RNA has various structures and functions: Messenger RNA (mRNA) acts as a template for protein synthesis, Transfer RNA (tRNA) reads the code on mRNA and brings amino acids to the growing protein chain, and Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) forms the ribosomes that catalyze protein synthesis.
- Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, and may be involved in epigenetic processes.
Test your knowledge of DNA structure and genetic material with this quiz. Learn about the milestones in DNA research, including the discovery of DNA as the genetic material and the identification of its structure as a double-stranded macromolecule.
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