BiochemistryLesson 1 of 1 in the course Biological Macromolecules

Nucleic Acid Structure, RNA Types, and Information Flow

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Nucleic acids preserve and transmit the information needed for life. In this lesson, you will examine the building blocks of DNA and RNA and learn how DNA’s structure supports its role as genetic material.

The base attaches to the sugar, and the sugar attaches to phosphate group(s). A long chain of nucleotides is called a polynucleotide.

DNA contains A, G, C, and T. RNA contains A, G, C, and U. Thus, RNA uses uracil in place of thymine.

All flashcards

What is a nucleotide?
A nucleotide is the monomer of a nucleic acid. It consists of a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar, and one or more phosphate groups.
How do purines differ from pyrimidines?
Purines, adenine and guanine, have two carbon-nitrogen rings. Pyrimidines, cytosine, thymine, and uracil, have one.
What is a phosphodiester linkage?
It is the bond connecting nucleotides in a nucleic-acid strand. A phosphate links the 5′5' carbon of one sugar to the 3′3' carbon of the next sugar.
What does complementary base pairing mean in DNA?
It means that bases pair according to specific rules: adenine pairs with thymine, and guanine pairs with cytosine. The sequence of one strand determines the sequence of its partner.
What happens during DNA replication?
Each parental DNA strand acts as a template for a new complementary strand. Each resulting DNA double helix contains one parental strand and one newly synthesized strand.

Quiz questions

  1. What is the principal role of messenger RNA (mRNA) in protein production?Answer: It carries genetic instructions from DNA to the protein-synthesis machinery.
  2. What role does ribosomal RNA (rRNA) perform in protein synthesis?Answer: It forms part of ribosomes and contributes to peptide-bond formation.
  3. How can microRNA (miRNA) affect gene expression?Answer: It interferes with the expression of particular mRNA messages.
  4. Which sequence represents the usual flow of genetic information described by the Central Dogma?Answer: DNA directs RNA production, and RNA directs protein production.
  5. During translation, what does a ribosome read to assemble a polypeptide?Answer: Groups of three bases in an mRNA molecule.

Based on Biology 2e by Mary Ann Clark, Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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