KAA-Lecture 2-Nucleic Acids 8_14.pdf Flashcards
Clone
Register
KAA-Lecture 2-Nucleic Acids 8_14.pdf Flashcards
KAA-Lecture 2-Nucleic Acids 8_14.pdf Flashcards
Study
What is the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology?
DNA -> RNA -> Protein.
What is the process through which the information contained in DNA is expressed?
The information is expressed through the production of mRNA (transcription) and the synthesis of proteins (translation).
What is the sugar component of DNA?
Deoxyribose.
What are the bases in DNA?
Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), Thymine (T).
What is the structure of DNA?
DNA is double-stranded.
What is the sugar component of RNA?
Ribose.
What are the bases in RNA?
Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), Uracil (U).
What are the two types of nucleic acids in cells?
DNA and RNA.
What are nucleic acids?
Nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides and are essential for all known forms of life.
What important roles do nucleic acids play?
Nucleic acids function in encoding, transmitting, and expressing genetic information.
Where do single-stranded DNA exist?
Single-stranded DNA exists in viruses.
What do regions of DNA called genes contain?
Genes contain the instructions for making proteins.
What are proteins?
Proteins are diverse and versatile macromolecules that perform most cell functions.
What are some functions of proteins?
Cell structure building blocks, catalyzing chemical reactions (enzymes), cell communication, movement, and production of antibodies.
How many base pairs does the entire human genome contain?
Approximately 32 billion base pairs.
How many genes does human DNA contain?
Less than 30,000 genes.
What percentage of human DNA comprises genes?
Genes comprise approximately 2% of human DNA.
What is the Human Genome Project?
A project that mapped the entire human genome.
What is DNA?
Deoxyribonucleic Acid, the human genetic blueprint.
What is the shape of DNA?
DNA forms a double helix.
What stabilizes the double helix structure of DNA?
Van der Waals interactions, hydrophobic properties of nitrogen bases, and hydrogen bonds between the nitrogen bases.
What are major and minor grooves in DNA?
Sections of double helix DNA that are exposed and can interact with proteins and other molecules.
What are the different forms of DNA?
B DNA (predominant form), A DNA (found in DNA-RNA hybrids), Z DNA (left-handed helix formed transiently in cells).
What is a nucleotide?
The basic subunit (monomer) of DNA, consisting of a 5-carbon sugar (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
What are the nitrogenous bases of DNA?
Pyrimidines: Cytosine (C), Thymine (T). Purines: Adenine (A), Guanine (G).
What are deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs)?
Nucleic acid monomers containing the sugar deoxyribose, used as building blocks for DNA.
What kind of bond holds the backbone of DNA together?
Phosphodiester bonds.
What is AZT and its function?
AZT (Azidothymidine) is a nucleoside analog of thymidine that is converted to a nucleotide analog in the body, replacing thymidine in DNA during synthesis, resulting in chain termination.
What is the role of AZT in treating HIV?
AZT is effective in treating retroviral infections because the viral enzyme reverse transcriptase uses AZT triphosphate preferentially over thymidine triphosphate.
What is HIV?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, a retrovirus.
KAA-Lecture 5-Translation and regulation.pdf Flashcards
Study