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Questions and Answers
What are the components that make up a nucleotide?
What are the components that make up a nucleotide?
Which of the following describes the structure of DNA?
Which of the following describes the structure of DNA?
What is the role of major and minor grooves in DNA?
What is the role of major and minor grooves in DNA?
How does the acidity of nucleic acids arise?
How does the acidity of nucleic acids arise?
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Which nitrogenous bases are found in RNA but not in DNA?
Which nitrogenous bases are found in RNA but not in DNA?
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What is the function of DNA in cells?
What is the function of DNA in cells?
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What structural feature of nucleic acids contributes to their polarity?
What structural feature of nucleic acids contributes to their polarity?
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In what way do nucleosides differ from nucleotides?
In what way do nucleosides differ from nucleotides?
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What role does mRNA play in the cell?
What role does mRNA play in the cell?
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Which enzyme is responsible for unwinding the DNA double helix during replication?
Which enzyme is responsible for unwinding the DNA double helix during replication?
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What is the main difference between the leading and lagging strands during DNA replication?
What is the main difference between the leading and lagging strands during DNA replication?
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Which of the following accurately describes the process of proofreading in DNA replication?
Which of the following accurately describes the process of proofreading in DNA replication?
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What specific role do telomeres play in eukaryotic DNA replication?
What specific role do telomeres play in eukaryotic DNA replication?
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What is the function of single-strand binding proteins (SSBs) during DNA replication?
What is the function of single-strand binding proteins (SSBs) during DNA replication?
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What distinguishes RNA from DNA in terms of structure?
What distinguishes RNA from DNA in terms of structure?
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Which type of RNA is primarily involved in the regulatory processes of gene expression?
Which type of RNA is primarily involved in the regulatory processes of gene expression?
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Study Notes
Nucleic Acids: Overview
- Store and transmit genetic information
- Two main types: DNA and RNA
- Nucleic acids are polymers composed of monomers called nucleotides
- Nucleotides consist of a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base
Chemical and Physical Properties of Nucleic Acids
- Polarity due to the sugar-phosphate backbone
- Hydrogen bonding stabilizes base pairs: A-T, G-C in DNA; A-U, G-C in RNA
- Phosphate groups confer a negative charge, making nucleic acids acidic
- Nucleosides: nitrogenous base linked to a sugar molecule
- Nucleotides: nucleoside with one or more phosphate groups attached to the sugar
Structure of DNA
- Double helix: two anti-parallel strands with a sugar-phosphate backbone and nitrogenous bases facing inward
- Major and minor grooves: facilitate protein binding and function
- Major groove is wider and deeper than the minor groove
Function of DNA
- Stores genetic information for protein synthesis
- Can replicate itself for cell division and genetic information propagation
Structure of RNA
- Typically single-stranded, but can form complex structures
- Types of RNA: mRNA, tRNA, rRNA
- mRNA: carries genetic information
- tRNA: transfers amino acids during translation
- rRNA: component of ribosomes
Function of RNA
- Key role in translating genetic information into proteins
- Regulatory roles: siRNAs and miRNAs involved in gene regulation
Replication
- Biological process duplicating DNA for cell division
- Ensures each daughter cell receives an exact copy of the genetic material
Process of Replication
- Initiation: Begins at origins of replication, unwinding DNA with helicase
- Elongation: DNA polymerase synthesizes new strands, adding nucleotides complementary to the template strands
- Termination: Completes when the entire DNA molecule is copied
- Proofreading and Repair: DNA polymerases correct errors in nucleotide pairing, ensuring high fidelity in replication
Key Enzymes
- Helicase: Unwinds DNA
- Single-strand binding proteins (SSBs): Prevent re-annealing of separated strands
- Topoisomerase: Relieves tension ahead of the replication fork
- DNA Polymerase: Synthesizes new DNA strands
- Primase: Synthesizes short RNA primers for DNA polymerase
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Description
Explore the essential aspects of nucleic acids, focusing on their types, structures, and functions. Learn how DNA and RNA store and transmit genetic information, and understand their chemical properties and significance in biology. This quiz will test your knowledge on nucleotides and DNA's double helix structure.
