RNA & DNA key Deets

Question 1

Function of DNA and RNA?

What happens in the ribosomes?

Answer 1

DNA stores genetic information
RNA transfers genetic information from the DNA to the ribosomes (in the ribosomes they read the RNA and make polypeptides)

Question 2

How the components of a nucleotide connect?

Answer 2

The oxygen atom on the phosphate connects to the 5th carbon of the pentose sugar.

The nitrogen atom of the base is connected to the primary carbon of the pentose sugar.

Question 3

How do nucleotides connect?

Answer 3

The oxygen atom of the phosphate of one nucleotide attaches to the 3rd carbon of the sugar on another nucleotide (see camera roll). THIS IS CALLED A PHOSPHODIESTER BOND and occurs by a CONDENSATION reaction

Question 4

How many hydrogen bonds between the different types of bases in DNA?

Answer 4

Two hydrogen bonds between A and T

Three hydrogen bonds between C and G

Question 5

What did scientists think about DNA in the 1800s?

Answer 5

They doubted that DNA could carry genetic information because it had a relatively simple chemical composition. Some thought that genetic information must be carried in proteins because they are more chemically varied.

Question 6

What happened in 19__?

Answer 6

1953
Watson and Crick determined DNA and a double helix structure.
Experiments showed that DNA does carry the genetic code.

Question 7

How is DNA stored in eukaryotes? +length?

Answer 7

Linear
Wrapped around histone proteins(which help support the DNA)
Very long
DNA coils up tightly to make a single compact chromosome

Question 8

How is DNA stored in prokaryotes?

Answer 8

Shorter
Circular
Supercoiling
Not associated with histone proteins

Question 9

Explain about DNA containing genes and certain sequences of bases and amino acids:

Answer 9

A gene is a sequence of DNA bases, the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide forms the primary structure of a protein, different polypeptides have a different number and order of amino acids (the order of bases in a gene determines the order of amino acids in a particular polypeptide), each amino acid is coded for by three bases called a triplet, to make a polypeptide the DNA is first copied into mRNA in the process of transcription, GENES THAT DON’T CODE FOR A POLYPEPTIDE CODE FOR FUNCTIONAL RNA SUCH AS tRNA or rRNA.