DNA and genes Flashcards
understand what DNA is and how it relates to the structure and function in an organism (20 cards)
what is DNA?
molecule that contains genetic information
- the blueprint for all living things
what is the blueprint for all living things?
DNA
what does DNA determine?
instruction manual for making all the proteins that help our bodies function
what do amino acids do?
amino acids join together to make proteins and the proteins can help make cells
what are amino acids?
molecules that join together to form proteins
what is the structure of DNA?
double helix
what is the structural support for the structure of DNA?
backbone
what is a gene?
genetic information passed down from one generation to another in packets or units
what is a base?
part of a DNA molecule, 4 types
what are the four base types?
adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine
what does adenine pair with?
thymine
what does guanine pair with?
cytosine
what does thymine pair with?
adenine
what is RNA?
molecule carrying genetic information
what does cytosine pair with?
guanine
what is the difference between DNA and RNA?
DNA is a double stranded molecule with a long chain or nucleotides and DNA is a single stranded molecule with a shorter chain of nucleotides
what are nucleotides?
basic building blocks of nucleic acids for DNA and RNA
what are the parts of nucleotides?
phosphate group, deoxyribose sugar, one base
why can certain bases only pair with each other?
because each base has a different chemical structure, so they can only pair up in one way
what is different about the bases is DNA and RNA?
thymine (T) is replaced by uracil (U), but everything else stays the same
