Nucleic Acids and Nucleotides Overview
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Questions and Answers

Which nitrogenous base is not found in DNA?

  • Adenine
  • Uracil (correct)
  • Cytosine
  • Thymine

What type of bonding occurs in the sugar-phosphate backbone of nucleic acids?

  • Van der Waals forces
  • Covalent bonding (correct)
  • Ionic bonding
  • Hydrogen bonding

Which of the following diseases is caused by an RNA virus?

  • Strep throat
  • Tuberculosis
  • Hepatitis C (correct)
  • Malaria

Which components make up a nucleotide?

<p>A nitrogenous base, deoxyribose, and a phosphate group (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of RNA in cells?

<p>Translating DNA to proteins (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which base pairs with adenine in DNA?

<p>Thymine (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of reaction combines two nucleotides to form a nucleotide?

<p>Condensation reaction (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the universality of the genetic code?

<p>It allows all life forms to have a common genetic coding mechanism. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Chargaff's rule in relation to DNA structure?

<p>It established the equal proportions of adenine to thymine and cytosine to guanine. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the structure of a nucleosome, how is DNA organized?

<p>DNA is wrapped around a core of eight histone proteins. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main conclusion of the Hershey-Chase experiment?

<p>DNA is the genetic material that can enter bacterial cells. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly describes the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA?

<p>It is made up of alternating sugar and phosphate groups. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many distinct types of RNA are primarily involved in protein synthesis?

<p>Three types: messenger RNA, ribosomal RNA, and transfer RNA (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of base pairing occurs between adenine and thymine in DNA?

<p>Two hydrogen bonds (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which component is NOT a part of a nucleotide?

<p>Amino acid (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the tails of histone proteins in a nucleosome?

<p>To interact with other nucleosomes and regulate gene expression. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the antiparallel structure of DNA strands?

<p>It supports proper base pairing and replication at the 3' end. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which component is common between DNA and RNA?

<p>Nitrogenous bases (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of histone proteins in the structure of DNA?

<p>They help package DNA into nucleosomes. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Chargaff's rule relate to DNA structure?

<p>It states that the amount of adenine always equals thymine. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the sugar-phosphate backbone of a nucleotide primarily composed of?

<p>Deoxyribose sugar and phosphate groups (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the term 'directionality' in nucleic acids?

<p>The specific ordering of nucleotides in a sequence. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant result of the Hershey-Chase experiment?

<p>It demonstrated that DNA is responsible for inheritance. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What structural feature contributes to the stability of the DNA double helix?

<p>Hydrogen bonding between purines and pyrimidines. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

DNA directionality

DNA strands run in opposite directions, 5' to 3' and 3' to 5'.

Nucleosome

DNA wrapped around histone proteins, organizing and compacting DNA.

DNA sequence

A specific order of nucleotide bases (A, T, C, G) in DNA carrying genetic information.

Chargaff's rule

In DNA, the amount of adenine equals thymine, and the amount of guanine equals cytosine.

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DNA and RNA Differences

DNA and RNA are both nucleic acids, but DNA is double-stranded, while RNA is single-stranded. They have different sugar molecules in their structure.

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Nucleotide

The building block of DNA and RNA, consisting of a sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base.

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5' end (of DNA)

The end of the DNA strand with a free phosphate group attached to the 5' carbon of deoxyribose.

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Nucleic acid base pairing

In DNA, Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T), and Guanine (G) pairs with Cytosine (C).

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What are nucleic acids?

Nucleic acids are information-carrying molecules found in cells and viruses. Their sequences encode instructions for building and maintaining an organism.

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Types of nucleic acids

There are two main types: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and Ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the primary genetic material in most organisms, while RNA plays various roles in protein synthesis.

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Nitrogenous bases in DNA

DNA contains four nitrogenous bases: Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C). These bases are paired with specific partners in DNA.

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DNA base pairing

Adenine (A) always pairs with Thymine (T), and Guanine (G) always pairs with Cytosine (C).

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Sugar-phosphate backbone

The sugar and phosphate groups in nucleotides form the backbone of DNA and RNA. The bases are attached to this backbone.

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What makes DNA different from RNA?

DNA has deoxyribose sugar, while RNA has ribose sugar. DNA uses Thymine (T), while RNA uses Uracil (U). DNA is double-stranded, while RNA is single-stranded.

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DNA diversity

Any length of DNA molecule is possible, and the sequence of bases can vary greatly, leading to immense genetic diversity.

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Hershey-Chase experiment conclusion

DNA, not protein, is the genetic material. This was determined by observing that radioactive DNA was found in the bacteria after bacteriophage infection, while radioactive protein remained outside.

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Tetranucleotide hypothesis

The incorrect belief that DNA was simply a repeating sequence of four nucleotide bases, with no variation.

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Why is Chargaff's rule important?

It disproved the tetranucleotide hypothesis, demonstrating that DNA had a more complex structure and could carry genetic information.

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DNA and proteins in the nucleus

Both DNA and proteins are present in the nucleus, but scientists initially suspected proteins as the genetic material because of their greater complexity.

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Falsification in science

A crucial part of the scientific process where a hypothesis is proved wrong, leading to new knowledge.

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Nucleosome structure

DNA is wrapped around a core of eight histone proteins, forming a bead-like structure called a nucleosome. Linker DNA connects nucleosomes.

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Histone tails

Extensions of histone proteins that project outside the nucleosome core and can be modified to regulate gene expression.

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Study Notes

Nucleic Acids

  • Nucleic acids are information molecules in cells and viruses.
  • The genetic code in nucleic acids is universal.
  • Two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).
  • DNA is genetic material found in the nucleus, organelles, and chloroplasts.
  • Some viruses use RNA as their genetic material.
  • Diseases caused by RNA viruses include the common cold, COVID-19, influenza, dengue fever, hepatitis C, rabies, Ebola, polio, mumps, and measles.
  • Viruses depend on living organisms' cells to survive and replicate, thus not considered living.

Nucleotide Components

  • A nucleotide comprises three substances bonded covalently: a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar (either ribose or deoxyribose), and a phosphate group.
  • The four DNA bases are cytosine (C), guanine (G), adenine (A), and thymine (T).
  • The four RNA bases are cytosine (C), guanine (G), adenine (A), and uracil (U).

Sugar-Phosphate Backbones

  • Nucleic acids are long, thread-like macromolecules with alternating sugar and phosphate molecules forming the backbone.
  • The sharing of electrons in the covalent bonds between sugar and phosphate provides strength to the backbone.
  • In DNA, the molecular double-helix shape results from two sugar-phosphate backbones that are antiparallel and twist together.

Bases in Nucleic Acids

  • Nitrogenous bases are adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine.
  • In DNA, adenine pairs with thymine, and guanine pairs with cytosine (A-T, G-C).

RNA as a Polymer

  • RNA molecules are shorter than DNA molecules, typically ranging from hundreds to thousands of nucleotides.
  • RNA has a single strand of polynucleotides.
  • The sugar in RNA is ribose, and uracil replaces thymine.
  • RNA has three primary functions: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA).

Nucleotide Diagrams

  • In diagrams, use circles, pentagons, and rectangles to represent the relative positions of phosphates, pentose sugars, and bases.
  • Use 'R' for ribose and 'DR' for deoxyribose within the pentose sugars.

DNA as a Double Helix

  • DNA is composed of two antiparallel polynucleotide strands held together by hydrogen bonds.
  • The two strands form a double helix.
  • The strands are termed "antiparallel" because one runs from the 5' carbon to the 3' carbon, while the other runs from the 3' carbon to the 5' carbon.

Diversity of DNA Sequences

  • The nitrogenous bases (A, C, T, and G) can combine in countless ways within a DNA molecule.
  • The diversity of DNA molecules depends on both length and base sequence.
  • The variety of possible sequences is vast.

DNA Storage Capacity

  • DNA has a limitless capacity for storing information.
  • Computer scientists are exploring ways to use DNA for storing digital information.

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A1.2 Nucleic Acids SL & HL PDF

Description

This quiz covers the fundamentals of nucleic acids, including their structure, types (DNA and RNA), and their role in genetic coding within cells and viruses. It also explores the components of nucleotides and the diseases caused by RNA viruses.

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