Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA Structure
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Questions and Answers

What type of bond is formed between the phosphate group and the sugar in a nucleotide?

  • Phosphodiester bond (correct)
  • Peptide bond
  • Hydrogen bond
  • Ionic bond
  • Which two bases belong to the purine category in DNA?

  • Adenine and Cytosine
  • Guanine and Uracil
  • Adenine and Guanine (correct)
  • Thymine and Cytosine
  • Which component of a nucleotide is NEVER found in proteins?

  • Amino acid
  • Nitrogenous base
  • Phosphate group (correct)
  • Sugar
  • What characterizes the ribose sugar found in nucleic acids?

    <p>It includes a hydroxyl group attached to the 1' carbon.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant difference between DNA and RNA regarding nitrogenous bases?

    <p>DNA contains thymine while RNA contains uracil.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which components make up a nucleotide?

    <p>Nitrogenous base, pentose sugar, and phosphate group</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following nitrogenous bases is found only in RNA?

    <p>Uracil</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes DNA from RNA at the molecular level?

    <p>DNA contains deoxyribose, while RNA contains ribose</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a nucleoside composed of?

    <p>A purine or pyrimidine base and a ribose or deoxyribose sugar</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements is true regarding the bases in nucleic acids?

    <p>Both DNA and RNA contain adenine, cytosine, and guanine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Chargaff’s rule state about the relationship between adenine and thymine in DNA?

    <p>The proportion of adenine equals the proportion of thymine.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the main conclusions from Chargaff's research on DNA?

    <p>The ratios of the bases vary in complex ways.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did X-ray diffraction contribute to our understanding of DNA structure?

    <p>It provided information about the three-dimensional structure of DNA.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Rosalind Franklin achieve in the study of DNA using X-ray diffraction?

    <p>She perfected the technique to obtain clearer images of DNA.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement is true regarding the relationship between guanine and cytosine in DNA?

    <p>The proportion of guanine equals the proportion of cytosine.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What shape of molecule did the X-ray diffraction patterns suggest DNA had?

    <p>A helical structure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Chargaff's second rule indicate?

    <p>The ratio of G–C to A–T varies with different species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Watson and Crick contribute to the understanding of DNA?

    <p>They worked out a likely structure for the DNA molecule.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the X-ray diffraction reveal about the dimensions of the DNA helix?

    <p>It has a diameter of about 2 nm and a helical turn every 3.4 nm.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is indicated by Chargaff's first rule?

    <p>The proportion of A equals that of T, and G equals C.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Both DNA and RNA contain the nitrogenous base U.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate group.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The absence of a hydroxyl group at the C-2' position is a characteristic that distinguishes DNA from RNA.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The purines found in nucleic acids are adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A nucleoside is formed when a nitrogenous base is bonded to a pentose sugar.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    DNA is primarily composed of four different types of nucleotides.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In nucleic acids, ribose sugar is a six-membered ring structure.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Sulfur is a component found in all amino acids but not in DNA.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Phosphodiester bonds connect the nitrogenous bases with the sugar in a nucleotide.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    RNA contains thymine in place of uracil.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Nucleic Acids: Building Blocks

    • DNA & RNA are built from nucleotides
    • Nucleotides have three components:
      • Nitrogenous base: Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), Thymine (T) (in DNA), Uracil (U) (in RNA).
      • Pentose sugar: Ribose (in RNA), Deoxyribose (in DNA).
      • Phosphate group
    • Two types of nitrogenous bases:
      • Purines: Double-ringed structures, including Adenine (A) and Guanine (G)
      • Pyrimidines: Single-ringed structures, including Cytosine (C), Thymine (T), and Uracil (U).

    DNA Structure

    • DNA is made of four nucleotides: A, T, C, and G
    • RNA contains uracil (U) instead of thymine (T)
    • DNA is a double helix:
      • Two strands wrap around a central axis.
      • Strands are antiparallel: One strand runs 5' to 3', the other 3' to 5'.
      • Phosphodiester backbone: Repeating sugar-phosphate units linked by phosphodiester bonds.
      • Nitrogenous bases: Extend towards the interior of the helix, forming base pairs.

    Base Complementarity

    • Adenine (A) forms two hydrogen bonds with Thymine (T).
    • Guanine (G) forms three hydrogen bonds with Cytosine (C).
    • This pairing is called complementarity.
    • The diameter of the double helix is constant due to pairing a purine with a pyrimidine.

    Chargaff's Rules

    • The amount of adenine (A) in DNA always equals the amount of thymine (T).
    • The amount of guanine (G) always equals the amount of cytosine (C).
    • A = T and G = C
    • The ratio of G-C to A-T varies among different species.

    Watson-Crick Model

    • Two antiparallel polynucleotide chains coiled around a central axis.
    • Bases of each chain are perpendicular to the axis.
    • Complementary base-pairing holds strands together.
    • Each turn of the helix is 3.4 nm long, containing 10 base pairs.
    • Major and minor grooves alternate along the length of the molecule.
    • Diameter of the double helix is 2 nm.

    RNA Structure

    • Similar to DNA, but with key differences:
      • Ribose replaces deoxyribose.
      • Uracil replaces thymine.
      • Most RNA is single-stranded.
    • Three classes of RNA involved in gene expression:
      • Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
      • Messenger RNA (mRNA)
      • Transfer RNA (tRNA)
      • Uracil pairs with adenine during transcription and RNA base pairing.

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    Description

    This quiz covers the building blocks of nucleic acids, focusing on the structure of DNA and RNA. Learn about nucleotides, nitrogenous bases, and the unique features of double-stranded DNA, including its antiparallel strands and phosphodiester backbone.

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