principles of biochem

• What is the primary function of DNA?

  Information storage medium
• Why do we learn about DNA?

  To understand genetic information storage
• What are the four characters used in DNA?

  A, C, G, T

  
• How does DNA differ from computer information storage?

  DNA uses four characters, computers use two
• What processes are involved in handling DNA information?

  Read, copy, archive, maintain, edit
• What is the 'operating system' of all living organisms made of?

  DNA, RNA, and proteins
• What is the central dogma of molecular biology?

  Flow of genetic information from DNA to protein

  
• What is the role of RNA in relation to DNA?

  To read information and turn it into proteins

  
• What is the function of proteins?

  They perform various biological functions
• What is the chemical structure of DNA?

  Deoxyribonucleic acid
• What are the building blocks of DNA?

  Deoxynucleotides

  
• What are the four bases of DNA?

  Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, Thymine

  
• What distinguishes purines from pyrimidines in DNA?

  Purines are larger than pyrimidines
• What is RNA's primary role?

  Intermediary or messenger molecule
• How does RNA differ from DNA in terms of sugar?

  RNA contains ribose, DNA contains deoxyribose
• What base does RNA have instead of thymine?

  Uracil

  
• How do small differences in DNA and RNA affect their properties?

  They result in significant biological differences
• What is the structure of DNA?

  Double helix

  
• What holds the two strands of DNA together?

  Hydrogen bonds and stacking interactions

  
• Who discovered the structure of DNA?

  James Watson and Francis Crick

  
• What are the two types of base pairs in normal DNA?

  A-T and G-C

  
• Why is G-C a stronger base pair than A-T?

  It has three hydrogen bonds instead of two

  
• How are DNA sequences typically written?

  Using letters A, C, G, T

  
• What happens during DNA denaturation?

  The two strands come apart
• What is the reverse process of DNA melting called?

  Annealing
• How does GC content affect DNA melting temperature?

  Higher GC content increases melting temperature
• What are the two grooves in DNA called?

  Major and minor grooves

  
• How many base pairs are there per full turn of the DNA helix?

  About 10 base pairs
• What is the significance of the antiparallel structure of DNA strands?

  It allows proper base pairing and stability

  
• What is the summary of the flow of genetic information?

  • DNA is transcribed into RNA
  • RNA is translated into protein
  • Proteins perform biological functions

  
• What are the structural features of DNA?

  • Double helix structure
  • Antiparallel strands
  • Major and minor grooves
  • 10 base pairs per turn

  
• What is the structural difference between hemoglobin and myoglobin?

  Hemoglobin is a tetramer.

  
• How many subunits does hemoglobin have?

  Four subunits: 2 α and 2 β chains.

  
• What does the term "O2 concentration" refer to in the context of myoglobin?

  It refers to how much myoglobin has oxygen bound.

  
• How does oxygen binding differ between myoglobin and hemoglobin?

  Myoglobin has a high affinity for oxygen.

  
• When does myoglobin bind oxygen?

  When there is very little oxygen available.

  
• What is the primary role of myoglobin?

  To capture and store oxygen in muscle.
• At what oxygen tension does myoglobin typically operate?

  20-30 torr.
• What happens to myoglobin during exercise?

  It rapidly releases oxygen due to reduced levels.
• What is the primary role of hemoglobin?

  To capture oxygen in the lungs and release it in tissues.