2.8 Nucleic Acids Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 2 types of nucleic acids?

A
  • DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

- RNA (ribonucleic acid)

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2
Q

What does DNA do?

A

stores genetic information in the cell and in the organism

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3
Q

What does a cell do with the information stored in it by DNA?

A

the cell replicates and transmits this information when the cell copies itself as well as when the organism reproduces

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4
Q

What is a nucleotide?

A

a molecular complex of 3 subunits

  • phosphate (phosphoric acid)
  • pentose sugar
  • nitrogen-containing base
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5
Q

What do nucleotides in DNA contain?

A

the sugar deoxyriose

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6
Q

What do nucleotides in RNA contain?

A

the sugar ribose

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7
Q

What are the 4 different types of bases in DNA?

A

adenine
thymine
guanine
cytosine

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8
Q

Which how many rings can a base in DNA have?

A

adenine and guanine: 2

thymine and cytosine: 1

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9
Q

What are the 4 different types of bases in RNA?

A

adenine
uracil
guanine
cytosine

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10
Q

Why are they called bases?

A

their presence raises the pH of a solution

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11
Q

How is the sequence of DNA most often referred?

A

in terms of the bases present

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12
Q

What is a strand?

A

a linear molecule formed by nucleotides that have a backbone made up of alternating phosphates and sugars with the bases projecting to one side of the backbone

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13
Q

What is the sequence of the bases in human DNA called?

A

the human genome

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14
Q

What is the human genome expected improve?

A
  • genetic counselling
  • gene therapy
  • medicines to treat the causes of many human illnesses
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15
Q

What is a double helix?

A

the structure of DNA resulting from 2 strands twisting about each other

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16
Q

In DNA, how are the 2 strands held together?

A

by hydrogen bonds between the bases

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17
Q

What are the upright (sides) of the ladder of DNA made of?

A

alternating phosphate and sugar molecules

18
Q

What are the rungs of the ladder of DNA made of?

A

complementary paired bases

19
Q

What are always the complementary base pairings?

A

adenine and thymine
guanine and cytosine

*complementary bases have shapes that fit together

20
Q

What do complementary base pairings allow DNA to do?

A

replicate in a way that ensures the sequence of bases will remain the same

21
Q

What do the base sequences of specific sections of DNA contain?

A

a code that specifies the sequence of amino acids in the proteins of the cell

22
Q

How many strands does RNA have and how is it formed?

A

single -stranded

formed by complementary base pairing with one DNA strand

23
Q

What is mRNA?

A

messenger RNA

carries the information from the DNA strand to the ribosome where it is translated into the sequence of amino acids specified by the DNA

24
Q

What is the heredity information stored by the DNA?

A

the sequence of its bases, which determines the primary structure of the cell’s proteins

25
Q

What is ATP?

A

adenosine triphosphate

a nucelotide composed of the nitrogen-containing base adenine and the 5-carbon sugar ribose (together called ribose) and 3 phosphate groups

*a common and universal energy “currency” of the cells in living systems

26
Q

Why is ATP a high-energy molecule?

A

because of the energy stored in the chemical bonds of the phosphates

the last two phosphate bonds are unstable and easily broken

27
Q

What is the chemical work of ATP?

A

supplies energy needed to synthesize macromolecules (anabolism) that make up the cell and therefore, the organism

28
Q

What is the transport work of ATP?

A

supplies energy needed to pump substances across the plasma membrane

29
Q

What is the mechanical work of ATP?

A

supplies energy needed to permit muscles to contract, cilia and flagella to beat, chromosomes to move

*in most cases, ATP is the immediate source of energy for these processes

30
Q

In cells, what usually happens to the terminal phosphate bond?

A

it is hydrolyzed, leaving the molecule ADP and a molecule of inorganic phosphate P

31
Q

What happens when ATP is converted to ADP + P?

A

the amount of energy released (about 7.3 kcal per mole) is sufficient for a particular biological function and little energy is wasted

32
Q

What do cells use the energy released by ATP breakdown for?

A

to synthesize macromolecules such as carbohydrates and proteins

33
Q

What do muscle cells use the energy released by ATP breakdown for?

A

muscle contraction

34
Q

What do nervous cells use the energy released by ATP breakdown for?

A

the conduction of nerve impulses

35
Q

What happens after ATP breaks down?

A

it is rebuilt by the addition of P to ADP with an input of energy

36
Q

Why is glucose broken down in a step-wise fashion during cellular respiration?

A

so that the energy of glucose is converted ti that of ATP molecules in mitochondria

*only 39% of the free energy of glucose is transformed to ATP, the rest is lost as heat

37
Q

What do ATP molecules serve as?

A

small “energy packets” suitable for supplying energy to a wide variety of a cell’s chemical reactions

38
Q

What happens when cells require energy?

A
  • they ‘spend’ ATP
  • reactions in the cell that need energy require ATP
  • the more active the organism, the greater the demand for ATP
39
Q

What is an endergonic reaction? Give an example.

A

creation of ATP from ADP and P requires input of energy from other sources

ie. cellular respiration

40
Q

What is an exergonic reaction? Give an example.

A

hydrolysis of ATP releases previously stored energy, allowing the change in free energy to do work and drive other processes

ie. protein synthesis, nerve conduction, muscle contraction

41
Q

In cells, how does ATP carry energy?

A

between exergonic and endergonic reactions

*when a phosphate group is removed by hydrolysis, ATP releases the appropriate amount of energy for most metabolic reactions