Nucleic Acids

• What are the two types of nucleic acids mentioned in the study material?

  DNA and RNA
• What are the three components of a nucleotide?

  A nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group
• How does the sequence of nucleotides affect DNA and RNA?

  It determines the genetic information carried by DNA and RNA
• What are the five main nitrogenous bases found in nucleic acids?

  Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, Thymine, and Uracil
• Which nitrogenous base is found only in DNA?

  Thymine (T)
• Which nitrogenous base is found only in RNA?

  Uracil (U)
• What are the two categories of nitrogenous bases?

  Purines and Pyrimidines
• Which bases are classified as purines?

  Adenine and Guanine
• Which bases are classified as pyrimidines?

  Cytosine, Thymine, and Uracil
• What base pairs are found in DNA?

  1. T and C-G
• What base pairs are found in RNA?

  1. U and C-G
• What is the key difference between the pentose sugars in DNA and RNA?

  DNA contains 2'-deoxyribose, while RNA contains ribose
• What is the structure of the phosphate group in nucleotides?

  A phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms
• What is the structure of DNA?

  DNA is a double-stranded molecule that forms a double helix structure
• What are the key features of DNA's structure?

  Two antiparallel strands, complementary base pairing, major and minor grooves
• What does it mean for DNA strands to be antiparallel?

  One strand runs in the 5' to 3' direction, while the other runs in the 3' to 5' direction
• What do the terms 5' and 3' refer to in DNA?

  The carbon atoms in the sugar molecule to which the phosphate groups are attached
• How are the two strands of DNA held together?

  By hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs
• How many hydrogen bonds are formed between adenine and thymine?

  Two hydrogen bonds
• How many hydrogen bonds are formed between guanine and cytosine?

  Three hydrogen bonds
• What are the major and minor grooves in DNA?

  Major groove is wider and more accessible to proteins; minor groove is narrower and less accessible
• What is the structure of RNA compared to DNA?

  RNA is typically single-stranded and contains uracil instead of thymine
• What is the significance of the single-stranded nature of RNA?

  It allows RNA to form complex secondary structures through intramolecular base pairing
• What are the types of RNA mentioned in the study material?

  Messenger RNA (mRNA), Transfer RNA (tRNA), Ribosomal RNA (rRNA), Small nuclear RNA (snRNA), MicroRNA (miRNA)
• What is the function of messenger RNA (mRNA)?

  It carries genetic information from DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis
• What is the role of transfer RNA (tRNA)?

  It brings amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis
• What is the function of ribosomal RNA (rRNA)?

  It forms part of the ribosome structure
• What is the significance of nucleosomes in DNA packaging?

  Nucleosomes are the basic units of DNA packaging that help compact DNA in eukaryotes
• What is the role of histones in DNA packaging?

  Histones are proteins around which DNA is wrapped
• What is the function of telomeres in DNA?

  Telomeres protect chromosome ends
• What is the function of centromeres in DNA?

  Centromeres are important for chromosome segregation during cell division
• What are introns in DNA?

  Introns are non-coding sequences within genes
• What did the ENCODE project reveal about the human genome?

  Over 80% of the human genome has some biochemical function, despite only about 1.5% coding for proteins
• What is the functional significance of DNA structure for replication?

  The complementary base pairing allows for accurate copying of genetic information
• How does DNA serve as a template for RNA synthesis?

  The DNA sequence serves as a template during transcription
• What is the central dogma of molecular biology?

  It describes the flow of genetic information: DNA → RNA → Protein
• What is the process of DNA replication?

  DNA makes a copy of itself during cell division, resulting in two identical DNA molecules
• What is the semi-conservative nature of DNA replication?

  Each new double helix contains one original strand and one newly synthesized strand
• What are the steps in DNA replication?

  The double helix unwinds, strands separate, and each strand acts as a template for new strands
• What role does DNA polymerase play in DNA replication?

  DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the growing strands