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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of nucleotides in nucleic acids?
What is the primary function of nucleotides in nucleic acids?
Which component of a nucleotide forms the backbone of nucleic acids?
Which component of a nucleotide forms the backbone of nucleic acids?
In a DNA molecule, which nucleotide component extends out from the sugar-phosphate backbone?
In a DNA molecule, which nucleotide component extends out from the sugar-phosphate backbone?
Which type of nucleotide contains deoxyribose, guanine, and phosphate?
Which type of nucleotide contains deoxyribose, guanine, and phosphate?
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Which nucleotide component is found in both DNA and RNA?
Which nucleotide component is found in both DNA and RNA?
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What is the main difference between a nucleoside and a nucleotide?
What is the main difference between a nucleoside and a nucleotide?
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Which nitrogen-containing base in nucleic acids is a purine found in both RNA and DNA?
Which nitrogen-containing base in nucleic acids is a purine found in both RNA and DNA?
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What is the pyrimidine base found in RNA, but not in DNA?
What is the pyrimidine base found in RNA, but not in DNA?
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In DNA, which five-carbon sugar is used, with a hydroxyl group (--OH) missing at C2’?
In DNA, which five-carbon sugar is used, with a hydroxyl group (--OH) missing at C2’?
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Which base, with a double ring structure, is found in both RNA and DNA?
Which base, with a double ring structure, is found in both RNA and DNA?
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What does the term 'deoxy' in deoxyribose indicate in DNA?
What does the term 'deoxy' in deoxyribose indicate in DNA?
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Which nitrogen-containing base is a pyrimidine found only in RNA?
Which nitrogen-containing base is a pyrimidine found only in RNA?
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What is the key difference between nucleosides and nucleotides?
What is the key difference between nucleosides and nucleotides?
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How are nucleotides in RNA and DNA different in terms of the sugar they contain?
How are nucleotides in RNA and DNA different in terms of the sugar they contain?
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How are nucleosides that contain a purine distinguished in their naming?
How are nucleosides that contain a purine distinguished in their naming?
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Which part of the nucleotide structure forms phosphate esters?
Which part of the nucleotide structure forms phosphate esters?
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What is the commonality between the names of DNA nucleosides and their corresponding nucleotides?
What is the commonality between the names of DNA nucleosides and their corresponding nucleotides?
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What distinguishes the naming convention of RNA and DNA bases from each other?
What distinguishes the naming convention of RNA and DNA bases from each other?
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Study Notes
Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids
- Nucleotides are the fundamental building blocks of nucleic acids, serving as the monomers that link to form DNA and RNA.
- The backbone of nucleic acids is formed by alternating sugar and phosphate groups, with the sugar component being deoxyribose in DNA and ribose in RNA.
Components of Nucleic Acids
- In DNA, the nucleotide component that extends out from the sugar-phosphate backbone is the nitrogenous base.
- A nucleotide that contains deoxyribose, guanine, and phosphate is specifically a deoxyguanosine monophosphate (dGMP).
- Both DNA and RNA contain the sugar-phosphate backbone, while the nitrogenous bases differ.
Nucleosides vs. Nucleotides
- Nucleosides consist of a nitrogenous base and sugar, lacking the phosphate group; nucleotides include the phosphate group, making them the more complex molecules.
- The key difference between nucleosides and nucleotides is the presence of the phosphate group in nucleotides.
Nitrogenous Bases in Nucleic Acids
- Adenine is a purine base found in both RNA and DNA.
- Uracil is the pyrimidine base present in RNA but absent in DNA.
- Thymine, a pyrimidine base found only in DNA, replaces uracil in this nucleic acid.
Sugar Variants
- DNA utilizes deoxyribose, characterized by the absence of a hydroxyl group (--OH) at the second carbon (C2').
- Ribose, found in RNA, includes a hydroxyl group at C2'.
Naming Conventions
- Purine-containing nucleosides are typically named by adding "osine" to the base name (e.g., adenine becomes adenosine).
- DNA nucleosides are named similarly to their nucleotide counterparts, with "deoxy" prefixed to the base name (e.g., deoxyadenosine).
- RNA nucleosides are generally named with "idine" added for pyrimidine bases and "osine" for purines, maintaining distinct nomenclature from DNA bases.
Phosphate Ester Formation
- The phosphate group in nucleotides forms phosphate esters, which contribute to the nucleic acid's structural integrity.
Nomenclature Commonalities
- The commonality in the naming of DNA nucleosides and their corresponding nucleotides is the base name, with a clear distinction signified by the presence or absence of "deoxy."
Overall Differences Between RNA and DNA
- The primary distinction between RNA and DNA nucleotides lies in the sugar component: RNA contains ribose while DNA contains deoxyribose, influencing their structural and functional properties.
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Description
Test your knowledge on nucleic acids components and nucleotides. Identify pentose sugar, base, nucleoside, nucleotide, and their presence in DNA, RNA, or both. Practice identifying specific nucleotides and their components.
