Chemistry of Life
Nucleic Acids
DNA vsRNA
Proteins
Concepts
100

Two or more atoms chemically bonded together form this structure.

Whats a molecule

100

Unlike RNA, this nucleic acid is generally double-stranded and uses thymine rather than uracil.

Whats DNA

100

Which molecule is typically double stranded

What is DNA

100

Name three functions proteins perform in cells (hint theres a lot)

What is catalyzing reactions, providing structure, transporting substances, cell signaling, defense, or movement?

100

A scientist predicts that fertilizer will increase plant growth. What is this prediction called?

What is a hypothesis

200

In a covalent bond between oxygen and hydrogen, oxygen attracts the shared electrons more strongly. This property is called ________.

What is electronegativity?

200

In DNA, adenine pairs with thymine and guanine pairs with cytosine. This is known as ________.

Whats complementary base pairing

200

What sugar is found in DNA

What is deoxyribose

200

What are the four components of an amino acid?

What are the amino group, carboxyl group, a hydrogen, and R-group

200

Why does an experiment need a control group?

What is to provide a comparison that helps determine whether the treatment caused an observed effect

300

This type of attraction occurs between a partially positive hydrogen and a partially negative electronegative atom such as oxygen or nitrogen. It is generally weaker than a covalent bond.

Whats a hydrogen bond

300

If one strand of DNA has the sequence 5′-ATGCCG-3′, what is the complementary strand, written antiparallel?

What is 3′-TACGGC-5′?

300

What nitrogenous base is found in RNA but not DNA

What is uracil

300

An amino acid has an R-group containing a charged group that interacts strongly with water. You would predict that this amino acid is ________.

What is hydrophilic?

300

In the central dogma, what is the general flow of genetic information?

What is DNA → RNA → protein

400

Consider a water molecule, H₂O. Identify the partial charge on oxygen and the partial charge on each hydrogen, and explain why.

What is oxygen is partially negative (δ−) and the hydrogens are partially positive (δ+) because oxygen attracts the shared electrons more strongly?

400

A DNA molecule contains 30% adenine. What percentage of the molecule must be thymine?

Whats 30%

400

Explain why DNA strands are antiparallel

What are the two strands run in opposite 5′→3′ directions

400

What types of bonds are in the tertiary level of protein structure?

What are hydrogen bonds, hydrophilic interactions, disulfide bonds, and ionic bonds

400

A scientist gets the same result in three independent experiments. Why does this make the conclusion stronger?

Because replication increases confidence that the result is reliable and not due to chance

500

On the pH scale, a solution with a pH of 2 is classified as this, while a solution with a pH of 12 is classified as this. Pure water is approximately this pH.

What are acidic, basic, and 7, respectively?

500

What are the three components of a nucleotide?

What is a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group

500
Name the difference in function for DNA and RNA

What is DNA stores long-term genetic information and RNA stores information to make proteins? 

500

Consider a protein that is fully folded and consists of one polypeptide chain. What levels of protein structure does this protein have?

What are primary, secondary, and tertiary structure?

500

Why are scientific conclusions considered contingent rather than absolute?

Because conclusions are based on the available evidence and can be revised if new, stronger evidence emerges