DNA: Nucleic acids

• what does DNA stand for

  deoxyribonucleic acid
• where is DNA found

  • found as chromatin
  • in nucleus of eukaryotic cells
  • small amounts found in mitochondria + chloroplasts
• what are the functions of DNA

  • large
  • stable
  • can be copied
  • protected by backbone
  • code for protein synthesis
  • undergo replication for inheritance
• what does DNA consist of

  • 2 polynucleotide strands
  • twisted into a double helix
• what pentose sugar does DNA nucleotides contain

  a deoxyribose
• what bases do DNA have

  • adenine
  • thymine
  • guanine
  • cytosine
• why are the 2 strands described to be antiparallel

  as they run in opposite directions
• within each strand what are the nucleotides held together with

  • a phosphodiester bond
  • between the phosphate group attached to 5th carbon + 3rd carbon atom on another
  • so one end of strand finishes on carbon 5 => 5 prime end
  • other end finishes on carbon 3 = 3 prime end
• what do the 2 sugar phosphate 'back bones' do

  they protect the genetic information stored within the sequence of bases
• true or false the bases DON'T face each other within the double helix

  false
• what are the bases held together by

  Hydrogen bonds