Nucleic Acids Flashcards
What is the primary function of DNA?
Carry genetic information for cell activities and proteins synthesis
What is the primary function of RNA?
Produces proteins
(Using genetic info from DNA, AKA the genetic code)
What are the monomers of nucleic acids called and what is their function?
Nucleotides
Chemical building blocks of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA)
What does a nucleotide consist of?
A phosphate
A sugar
A nitrogen base
What does phosphate do in nucleic acids?
Structural backbone to support DNA and RNA
Forms double helix shape in DNA, single for RNA
What does sugar do in nucleic acids?
Forms sugar-phosphate backbone of nucleotides in nucleic acids
(Deoxyribose in DNA, ribose in RNA)
What do nitrogen bases do in nucleic acids?
Make up nucleotides, structural support
Store genetic information for DNA and RNA
What are three differences in the structures of DNA and RNA?
- DNA is double stranded, RNA is single
- DNA has deoxyribose sugar, RNA
ribose sugar - DNA has nitrogen base thymine, RNA has
uracil
What are the three major types of RNA?
- Messenger RNA (mRNA)
- Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
- Transfer RNA (tRNA)
What does mRNA do?
Messenger, carries copies of DNA’s nucleotide sequences (bases) to be translated into proteins
What does rRNA do?
Forms ribosomes - the site of protein synthesis in the cell for mRNA to be translated into proteins
What are ribosomes?
Site of protein synthesis for mRNA to be translated into proteins
What does tRNA do?
Carries amino acids to their positions to build polypeptide chain during translation
