DNA vs. RNA
Which of the two nucleic acids is only found in the nucleus?
DNA
What are the base pairing rules?
A pairs with T and C pairs with G.
Which part of the enzyme actually speeds up a process?
The active site
Why is the spacing between DNA strands fairly similar throughout the DNA?
Base pairing always occurs between a single carbon ring base and a double carbon ring base.
What are three differences between DNA and RNA?
RNA has ribose, DNA has deoxyribose; RNA has uracil, DNA has thymine; RNA is single stranded, DNA is double stranded
If there were a double stranded RNA molecule if one strand had the base A, which base would it pair with?
U
What kind of macromolecule is an enzyme?
An enzyme is a protein?
What makes it possible to separate two DNA strands?
An enzyme can disrupt the hydrogen bonding between base pairs.
What kind of bond is formed between the phosphate group and sugar in DNA?
Phosphodiester bond
What are the two types of bonding that are present in nucleic acids or between nucleotides?
Covalent and hydrogen bonds.
Why is it possible for an enzyme to speed up a process?
An enzyme's active site has a very unique shape which allows it to bind effectively to the target molecule. The interaction between the enzyme and the target molecule (often in the form of hydrogen bonding) weakens the bonds in the target molecule, resulting in the production of new molecules.
What is a structural difference in the backbone of DNA and RNA?
There is a minor difference in the structure of deoxyribose, the sugar used in the DNA backbone and ribose, the sugar used in the RNA backbone.
Why is the phosphodiester bond similar to the peptide bond?
The phosphodiester bond is similar to the peptide bond because an O-H is lost from the sugar and an H is lost from the phosphate group.
Why are some areas of a nucleotide basic?
N-H bonding.
Why is it important that the enzyme not change during the time it speeds up a process?
If the enzyme's bonds change, then it is strongly likely that the shape of the active site will change. As a result, the active site will no longer be able to target a specific molecule.
Why was detergent used in the DNA extraction?
In order to reach the DNA inside the nucleus, the cell membrane needed to be broken. The cell membrane is both polar and nonpolar. The detergent is both polar and nonpolar. The detergent will therefore interact with the cell membrane.
This came from the Bozeman science video on nucleic acids. What is the difference between the base pairing and the phosphodiester bond?
Hydrogen bonding makes base pairing possible. This is an attractive force between either A and T or C and G. The phosphodiester bond is a covalent bond between the sugar and the phosphate. A covalent bond is stronger than an attractive intermolecular force.
Why is a double stranded DNA more likely to be stable than a double stranded RNA?
Stronger hydrogen bonding between A and T in DNA versus A and U in RNA because there is a minor structural difference in U versus T.
Why does pH changes impact the effectiveness (how well it works) of an enzyme?
An amino acid has both the carboxyl (COOH) group which is acidic, and an amino group (NH2) which is basic. If the enzyme is exposed to a higher pH, the carboxyl group will be affected since acids react with bases. If the enzyme is exposed to a lower pH, the amino group will be affected.
Why is alcohol used in the DNA extraction?
Both DNA and alcohol are polar, making it more easily for the DNA to follow the alcohol when the strawberry pulp and liquid are separated using the funnel and the cheesecloth.