Structure Of DNA Flashcards
What does DNA stand for
Deoxyribonucleic acid
Shape of DNA
Double helix formation
What does DNA coil to form?
Chromosomes
What is the genome?
An organisms complete set of DNA including all genes
Contains all information needed to build and maintain organism
What are the two types of DNA in a eukaryotic animal cell?
Nucleus DNA (nDNA)
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
What are the differences between nDNA and mtDNA?
nDNA has a double helix formation and myDNA has a closed, circular structure
nDNA is found inside the nucleus and mtDNA is found in the mitochondria
nDNA controls the cell and has two copies and mtDNA can have thousands of copies in a single cell
nDNA can be inherited from either parent and mtDNA is only inherited from the female
nDNA changes between generations but mtDNA doesn’t
nDNA has a lower rate of mutation and mtDNA has a higher rate of mutation
What research can mtDNA be used in?
mtDNA can be used to track lineage on the mothers side and has some properties which allow identification of a person
What is the difference between DNA and RNA?
DNA contains deoxyribose and RNA contains ribose
DNA has thymine bases and RNA has uracil bases instead
DNA is double stranded and RNA is single stranded
What is DNA made of?
Repeating units called nucleotides which fold to form a double helix
What are the base pairs?
Adenine pairs with thymine
Cytosine pairs with guanine
What are the features of DNA?
Antiparallel strands - 5’ and 3’ ends meet
Double helix formation
Made up of nucleotides
Sugar phosphate backbone
What is meant by antiparallel strands?
Two parallel stands with their sugar phosphate backbones running in opposite directions
What is meant by genotype
Genes present
What is meant by phenotype?
Physical characteristics
What are linear chromosomes and what do they do?
Where DNA is wound and coiled around protein bundles
Avoids the long stands of DNA being tangled
Can be coiled and uncoiled when required
