DNA & RNA

Question 1

What does DNA stand for

Answer 1

deoxyribonucleic acid

Question 2

What does RNA stand for

Answer 2

rubinucleic acid

Question 3

What is the role of DNA

Answer 3

to store genetic information

Question 4

What is genetic information

Answer 4

the instructions an organism needs to grow and develop from a fertilised egg to an adult

Question 5

What is one of the main functions of RNA

Answer 5

to transfer genetic information from DNA to ribosomes

Question 6

What are ribosomes

Answer 6

protein producers

Question 7

What do ribosomes do to produce proteins

Answer 7

they read the RNA to make polypeptides in a process called translation

Question 8

What are ribosomes made from

Answer 8

RNA and proteins

Question 9

What is DNA and RNA polymers of

Answer 9

nucleotides

Question 10

What type of molecule is a nucleotide

Answer 10

biological

Question 11

What 3 things is a nucleotide made from

Answer 11

1) pentose sugar
2) nitrogen-containing organic base
3) phosphate group

Question 12

What is a pentose sugar

Answer 12

sugar with 5 carbon atoms

Question 13

What are the 5 types of nitrogen-containing organic bases

Answer 13

1) cytosine
2) guanine
3) thymine
4) adenine
5) uracil

Question 14

How are the pentose sugar, phosphate group and bases joined

Answer 14

condensation reaction

Question 15

What do the pentose sugar, phosphate group and bases join to make

Answer 15

mononucleotide

Question 16

How do 2 mononucleotides join together

Answer 16

by a condensation reaction between deoxyribose sugar of one mononucleotide and phosphate group of the other with a phosphodiester bond

Question 17

What do 2 mononucleotides joined together to make

Answer 17

dinucleotide

Question 18

What is a polynucleotide

Answer 18

lots of mononucleotides joined together

Question 19

What is DNA a sequence of

Answer 19

bases

Question 20

What is the characteristics of RNA

Answer 20

single, relarively short polynucleotide chain

Question 21

What is the sugar in RNA

Answer 21

pentose

Question 22

What are the bases of RNA

Answer 22

adenina, guanine, cytosine & uracil

Question 23

What is the structural characteristics of DNA

Answer 23

double helix, relatively long polynucleotide chain

Question 24

What is the sugar in DNA

Answer 24

deoxyribose

Question 25

What are the bases in DNA

Answer 25

adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine

Question 26

What are the 2 strands in DNA joined together by

Answer 26

hydrogen bonds

Question 27

What is base pairing

Answer 27

the joining of specific and complementary bases by hydrogen bonds

Question 28

What bases are complementary to each other

Answer 28

adenine & thymine | guanine & cytosine

Question 29

What does a phosphodiester bond contain

Answer 29

phosphate group and 2 ester bonds

Question 30

What is the chain of sugars and phosphates known as in the polynucleotide strand

Answer 30

sugar-phosphate backbone

Question 31

Are there equal amounts of A,T,G&C in DNA

Answer 31

yes

Question 32

How many hydrogen bonds form between A&T

Answer 32

2

Question 33

How many hydrogen bonds form between G&C

Answer 33

3

Question 34

What twists to form the double-helix structure of DNA

Answer 34

anti-parallel polynucleotide strands

Question 35

What does anti-parallel mean

Answer 35

running in opposite directions

Question 36

Is DNA a stable molecule

Answer 36

yes

Question 37

What 2 reasons is DNA a stable molecule

Answer 37

1) phosphodiester backbone protects the more chemically reactive organic bases inside the double helix 2) hydrogen bonds link the organic bases to form bridges (rungs). 3 hydrogen bonds between G&C - more G&C = more stable

Question 38

What are rungs

Answer 38

bridges formed between organic bases with hydrogen bonds

Question 39

What else holds the molecule together

Answer 39

other interactive forces, base stacking

Question 40

What provides the genetic diversity within living organisms

Answer 40

DNA sequence variation

Question 41

How is DNA adapted to carry out its function (5 ways)

Answer 41

1) very stable, normally passes without change and rarely mutates 2) 2 strands joined by hydrogen bonds that can separate during DNA replication and protein synthesis 3) extremely large molecule so can carry lots of genetic information 4) genetic information is protected by sugar-phosphate backbone from outside chemical and physical forces 5) can replicate and transfer info as mRNA due to base pairing

Question 42

Why did people doubt that DNA could carry the genetic code

Answer 42

it has a relatively simple structure

Question 43

Who determined DNA and its function

Answer 43

Watson and Crick

Question 44

What were the other contenders for the role of genetic information

Answer 44

particular proteins

Question 45

What are the 2 types of carbon atoms in pentose molecule on the nucleic acids

Answer 45

3' (3 prime) and 5' (5 prime)

Question 46

What direction do the 3' and 5' run

Answer 46

opposite (antiparallel)

Question 47

Where does the enzyme DNA polymerase attach to the nucleotides

Answer 47

the hydroxyl (OH) group on the 3' carbon molecule