Nucleic acids and Flow of Genetic Information (Lesson 5)

Question 1

Nucleic Acids

Answer 1

Store and Transmit hereditary information in genes (units of inheritance), program AA sequence of the polypeptide (proteins)

Question 2

Structure of Nucleic Acids

Answer 2

Made of nucleotides (monomers) -> link to form polynucleotides

1) Phosphate molecule (P)
2) 5-carbon sugar (S)
3) Nitrogenous base (F)

Question 3

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

Answer 3

Acts as a blueprint to make various proteins in our cells. A gene is a segment of DNA that encodes protein.

Question 4

Function of DNA

Answer 4

• Needed for cell replication
• Contains genes
• Gense influence cells for which proteins make
• Complementary base pairing

Question 5

Ribunucleic Acid (RNA)

Answer 5

Act as messengers to relay information (link between DNA/protein). Consist of a single strand of nucleotides.

Question 6

Types of RNA involved in protein synthesis

Answer 6

1) mRNA 2)tRNA 3) rRNA

Question 7

Difference DNA vs RNA (Strcture)

Answer 7

• DNA missing 1 oxygene from sugar (comparison)
• Thymine (T) –> Uracil (U)
• Double stranded –> Single Stranded

Question 8

Genetic Information

Answer 8

Each gene carries information (blueprint) needed to make specefic protein + determines the primary sequence of protein. RNA allows it to leave nucleus

Question 9

Transcription

Answer 9

Transfer of genetic information from DNA messenger RNA (mRNA)

• Seperation mRNA
• Synthesis mRNA (complementary to the DNA with base pair rule), make 1 copy of gene

Question 10

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Answer 10

DNA is like instructions so you must copy it/keep original

• single-stranded
• synthezised in nucleus with help enzymes/DNA
• information for 1 gene
• “words” organized in “codons” -> groups of 3 nucleotides that indicate a given AA

Question 11

How many start/stop condone?

Answer 11

There is 1 start codone (AUG, methionine) and 3 stop codons

Question 12

Translation

Answer 12

Assembly of the protein (primary structure) according to the mRNA

Question 13

Codons

Answer 13

Provide sequence that AA must be arranged (create primary sequence)

Question 14

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Answer 14

tRNA communicates between mRNA and AA, each mRNA codone has an tRNA anticodone.

• Each has: 1) a unique codon
  2) each tRNA can attach to only 1 kinf of AA

Question 15

Ribosomes

Answer 15

Their structure makes them specialized bringing mRNA/tRNA together to make proteins.
Each contains 3 tRNA binding:
1) A site 2) P site 3) E site