chapter 3 - DNA structure and function

Question 1

Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA

Answer 1

Different:
prokarytoic dna is circular whilst eukaryotic is is linear
eukaryotic dna is bound by a nucleus whereas prokarytoic dna is just found in the nucleoid region
eukaryotic dna is much larger than prokaryotic dna

Same:
both contain genetic material
the process of protein synthesis is the same
process of dna replication is the same

Question 2

Explain the cause and effect of semi-conservative replication

Answer 2

semi-conservatice replication is caused by the fact that to replicate dna, a parent strand must be used as a template to synthesise a new strand. meaning in the resulting two dna molecules, in each molecule one strand is the new synthesised daughter strand, and the complementary strand, is the parent strand that was used as a template this means in the new dna molecule the orginial dna sequence from the parent strands are conserved as they are complementary and used as templates.

Question 3

Distinguish between coding and non-coding DNA

Answer 3

coding dna is made up of exons that contain the instructions for protein synthesis whereas non-coding dna is made up of introns which do not contain the instructions for protein synthesis

Question 4

Distinguish RNA from DNA

Answer 4

dna is made up of deoxyribose sugars, contains genetic material and is double stranded

rna is made up of ribose sugars, is used in protein synthesis and is single stranded