DNA and RNA components Flashcards
What is DNA?
DNA is our genetic material.
It consists of two polynucleotide chains that twist and coil together to form a double helix structure.
What is DNA made of?
A nitrogenous base
Sugar
Phosphate group
What are the four types of nitrogenous bases in DNA?
Adenine
Thymine
Cytosine
Guanine
How many hydrogen bonds between the pairs of nitrogenous bases?
Adenine and thymine are joined together by two hydrogen bonds.
Guanine and cytosine are joined together by three hydrogen bonds.
What are the nitrogenous bases found in RNA?
Adenine
Uracil
Cytosine
Guanine
What are purines and which nitrogenous bases are part of them?
Purines contain two carbon nitrogen rings. Adenine and guanine are classed as purines.
What are pyrimidines and what nitrogenous bases are part of them?
They contain one carbon nitrogen based ring.
Cytosine and thymine and uracil are classed as pyrimidines.
What is a entire sugar?
Contains five carbon atoms.
Nitrogenous base and sugar are joined together via a glycosidic bond.
What is RNA?
Very similar to DNA however the sugar is ribose and not pentose.
Uracil is used instead of thymine.
How are nucloeitudes joined together to form the double helix structure?
By phosphodiester bonds.
What direction does double stranded DNA run?
The nucleotides run anti-paraelle to each other.
How much energy does to take to break the hydrogen bonds in DNA?
4.21 kjmol-1
How is DNA stable and what gives it its stability?
Hydrogen bonds provide DNA with its stability and they are very stable as there are loads of hydrogen bonds present in DNA.
Who developed the double helix structure?
James Watson and Francis Crick.
What is the diameter of the DNA helix?
2nm.
What is on the inside and the outside of the DNA helix?
The nitrogenous bases are on the inside of the structure and a sugar-phosphate backbone on the outside.
What are the three main types of RNA?
Messenger RNA- mRNA.
Transfer RNA- tRNA
Ribosomal RNA- rRNA.
