Nucleic Acids and DNA Structure

What are nucleic acids classified as?

What are the monomers that make up nucleic acids called?

What are the three components of a DNA nucleotide?

What are the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA?

DNA is a single-stranded molecule.

How are the two strands of a DNA molecule related?

What is the process of making an extra copy of a DNA molecule called?

What enzyme bonds one DNA nucleotide to another?

Match the following complementary DNA bases:

What does DNA replication result in?

What are the three components of an RNA nucleotide?

What base does RNA have instead of thymine?

RNA is a double-stranded molecule.

What is the process of making messenger RNA from a DNA template called?

In which part of the cell does transcription occur?

What is the process of making a polypeptide from mRNA called?

What are polypeptides made of?

Translation occurs on what structures in the cell?

Where are ribosomes located?

What type of RNA molecule brings amino acids to the ribosomes?

What are groups of three bases on mRNA that each code for an amino acid called?

What are the complementary RNA bases?

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are macromolecules classified as DNA and RNA.
The building blocks of nucleic acids are called nucleotides.

DNA Structure

Each DNA nucleotide comprises a 5-carbon sugar (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
The four nitrogenous bases in DNA are cytosine, guanine, thymine, and adenine.
DNA is a double-stranded molecule, with strands that are complementary but not identical.

DNA Replication

The replication process generates an extra copy of a DNA molecule.
The enzyme responsible for linking DNA nucleotides is DNA polymerase.
During replication, bases pair complementarily: adenine pairs with thymine (A with T) and guanine pairs with cytosine (G with C).
Replication results in two identical DNA molecules, each a copy of the original.

RNA Structure

RNA nucleotides consist of a sugar (ribose), a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogenous bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, or uracil.
Uracil replaces thymine, which is found in DNA.
RNA is a single-stranded molecule.

Transcription and Translation

Transcription is the process of synthesizing messenger RNA (mRNA) from a DNA template using RNA nucleotides.
Transcription occurs in the nucleus of the cell.
Translation involves creating a polypeptide from mRNA and amino acids, occurring on ribosomes.
Ribosomes, located in the cytoplasm, serve as the site of translation.

Amino Acids and Polypeptides

Polypeptides are polymers made of monomers known as amino acids.
Transfer RNA (tRNA) is responsible for transporting amino acids to the ribosomes during translation.

Codons

Codons are groups of three bases on mRNA that each correspond to a specific amino acid.
In RNA, complementary bases are adenine with uracil (A with U) and guanine with cytosine (G with C).

Explore the fundamentals of nucleic acids, including their classifications as DNA and RNA. Learn about the structure of DNA, the process of DNA replication, and the distinct features of RNA. This quiz covers key concepts like nucleotides, complementary base pairing, and the role of DNA polymerase.