DNA structure and function

• What does DNA stand for?

  Deoxyribonucleic acid
• What does DNA code for?

  Amino acid sequences
• How does the primary structure of a protein relate to its function?

  It determines the final 3D shape
• Which cells do not have their own copy of DNA?

  Red blood cells
• Why is DNA considered essential?

  It codes for all proteins in a cell
• What is the structure of DNA?

  Double helix
• What are the components of a DNA nucleotide?

  Phosphate group, pentose sugar, nitrogen base
• What is the name of the pentose sugar in DNA?

  Deoxyribose
• What are the four nitrogenous bases in DNA?

  Guanine, cytosine, adenine, thymine
• What reaction forms a polynucleotide from DNA nucleotides?

  Condensation reaction
• What bond forms between nucleotides in DNA?

  Phosphodiester bond
• Why are phosphodiester bonds important for DNA?

  They hold nucleotides together strongly
• What is the sugar-phosphate backbone in DNA?

  The strong structure holding nucleotides together
• How many polymer chains does DNA have?

  Two polymer chains
• What is the structure of DNA described as?

  Double helix
• What are complementary base pairs in DNA?

  Pairs of bases that bond together
• Which bases are complementary pairs in DNA?

  Cytosine and guanine; adenine and thymine
• How many hydrogen bonds do guanine and cytosine form?

  Three hydrogen bonds
• How many hydrogen bonds do adenine and thymine form?

  Two hydrogen bonds
• Why is complementary base pairing important?

  It ensures identical copies during replication
• What stabilizes the DNA structure?

  Covalent phosphodiester bonds
• How does the double helix structure protect DNA?

  Strong bonds are on the outside
• Why are hydrogen bonds advantageous for DNA replication?

  They can break with little energy
• How does DNA fit into a small space?

  It coils around histones
• What allows identical copies to be made in DNA replication?

  Complementary base pairing
• What is the relationship between DNA structure and its function?

  • DNA's double helix structure provides stability.
  • Phosphodiester bonds create a strong backbone.
  • Hydrogen bonds allow easy separation for replication.
  • Complementary base pairing ensures accurate copying.
• What are the key features of DNA?

  • Double helix structure
  • Composed of nucleotides
  • Contains deoxyribose sugar
  • Four nitrogenous bases: A, T, C, G