DNA
What is the building block of DNA?
What are nucleotides?
What is the main structural difference between RNA and DNA?
RNA is single stranded and DNA is double stranded.
What is the building block of proteins?
Amino acids
What are the bonds which hold amino acids together?
Peptide bonds - an O-H is lost from the carboxyl group and an H is lost from the amino group.
Which bond is stronger, the bond between sugar and phosphate, or the hydrogen bonding between the base pairs?
The bond between sugar and phosphate, because in hydrogen bonding, the partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms and the partial negative charges on atoms such as nitrogen and oxygen merely draws the atoms closer. However in the phosphodiester bond, the atoms are much more closely spaced.
The sequence of nucleotide bases on mRNA that would complement the following bases on DNA: A T T C G C A G T
What is U A A G C G U C A
What is the distinguishing feature between different amino acids?
The amino acid residue (R)
What does the phosphodiester and the peptide bond have in common?
A water molecule is formed from the combination of OH and H.
Why is DNA considered the master code for the production for proteins (this was hinted at in the Bozeman Science video on nucleic acids).
The bases in one of the two strands of DNA determines the base sequence in RNA. A single amino acid is produced from three RNA bases.
For example, if the coding strand in DNA is AATCGG,
then the RNA will read as: UUAGCC
Which type of RNA (single stranded or double stranded) probably served as the genetic material in earlier living things and why?
Single stranded RNA because the less complex nature of the molecule makes reproduction faster.
Why is there folding in proteins?
There can be hydrogen bonding between the R groups in the amino acids and the N-H bonds and the O-H bonds at the ends of the amino acids can make more hydrogen bonding possible.
Describe the reaction which catalase speeds up.
The breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas.
Why are there more hydrogen bonds between cytosine and guanine adenine and thymine?
There are more N-H bonds which makes more extensive hydrogen bonding possible between cytosine and guanine. Notice that I didn't mention the specific structures of cytosine and guanine. I don't expect you to know the specific structures.
Why is an RNA molecule more sensitive to higher temperatures than a DNA molecule?
In DNA, a portion of the heat is used to break the hydrogen bonding between the DNA base pairs, leaving less heat available to target the other areas of the DNA molecule.
Why are some proteins less polar than other proteins?
Not all R groups are the same...some R groups may have more C-H bonds.
What can cause active sites in enzymes to have different shapes?
Different interactions between the R groups and different patterns of hydrogen bonding in other areas of the amino acids making up enzymes.
What is the part of DNA which makes one DNA molecule different from another DNA molecule?
The bases - all DNA molecules have the same sugar and phosphate backbone. The bases determine the genetic makeup of an individual.
In class, I briefly mentioned that RNA is the genetic material of some, but not all viruses. Some viruses have DNA as their genetic material. Which virus is easier to target with a vaccine and why?
Humans have DNA serve as genetic material. Since there are more similarities between our DNA and the genetic material of a virus with DNA, a vaccine is probably easier to make which targets a DNA-based virus.
Why are not all proteins enzymes?
An enzyme is a special case of a protein which helps speed up processes. Proteins serve other functions, such as giving hair a certain appearance and texture.
Why is it useful for a cell membrane to be both polar and nonpolar?
The cell membrane is the gateway of the cell, allowing substances to go in and out. If the cell membrane is both polar and nonpolar, it allows more interactions between different substances.