Nucleic Acids

• Describe the process of the semi conservative replication of DNA

  1. DNA helicase unwinds the double helix and breaks the hydrogen bonds between complementary bases
  2. Each of strands can act as a template strand for the formation of two new complementary strands
  3. Individual DNA nucleotides align and attach by hydrogen bonding to the exposed bases of each template strand according to specific complementary base pairing
  4. DNA nucleotides in each new strand are joined together by phosphodiester bonds during a condensation reaction by DNA polymerase to form complementary strands

   
• Describe the function and draw the general structure of DNA and RNA

  • DNA holds genetic information
  • RNA transfers genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes
• How are ribosomes formed?

  RNA and proteins are joined together