Questions and Answers
What are purines and pyrimidines?
What is the primary difference between purines and pyrimidines?
Their molecular structure and size
What is the structure of purines?
A larger, double-ring structure
How many rings are found in purines?
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What are the bases of purines?
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Where are adenine (A) and guanine (G) found?
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What is the structure of pyrimidines?
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How many rings are found in pyrimidines?
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What are the bases of pyrimidines?
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What pairs with thymine in DNA?
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What pairs with uracil in RNA?
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Purines have a single-ring structure.
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Pyrimidines have a double-ring structure.
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Study Notes
Purines and Pyrimidines
- Nitrogenous bases are the building blocks of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), categorized into purines and pyrimidines.
Structural Differences
- Purines have a larger, double-ring structure, while pyrimidines possess a smaller, single-ring structure.
- Purines consist of a six-membered ring fused to a five-membered ring.
Purine Characteristics
- Key purine bases include adenine (A) and guanine (G).
- Adenine pairs with thymine (T) in DNA and with uracil (U) in RNA.
Pyrimidine Characteristics
- Pyrimidines include cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U).
- Thymine pairs with adenine in DNA, while uracil pairs with adenine in RNA.
Summary of Base Pairing
- The pairing of bases is crucial for the integrity of genetic information:
- Adenine (A) - Thymine (T) in DNA
- Adenine (A) - Uracil (U) in RNA
- Cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G), regardless of being in DNA or RNA.
Structural Summary
- Purines:
- Double-ring structure
- Include adenine and guanine
- Pyrimidines:
- Single-ring structure
- Include cytosine, thymine, and uracil
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Description
Dive into the essential distinctions between purines and pyrimidines with these flashcards. Understand their molecular structures, sizes, and their significance in DNA and RNA. Perfect for students studying biochemistry or molecular biology.
