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Nucleic Acids Study Guide: Comprehension of Nucleic Acids' Structure and Properties - Prof, Study notes of Biology

This study guide covers various aspects of nucleic acids, including their basic parts, differences between rna and dna, secondary structures, and the role of hydrogen bonding. Topics also include the determination of dna structure using x-ray crystallography and the concept of complementary base pairing. Additionally, the guide discusses the stability of dna based on base composition, the function of restriction enzymes, and the principles of gel electrophoresis in the context of genetic fingerprinting.

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Chapter 4 Study Guide: Nucleic Acids
What are the three basic parts of a nucleic acid?
What is a phosphodiester linkage? By what type of reaction is it formed? Does this reaction result in
an increase or decrease in entropy? Why?
What is the basic difference between RNA and DNA from a sugar backbone standpoint? How does
this affect their reactivities? From an evolutionary standpoint, why is this important?
Does a strand of nucleic acid have directionality? Why?
From a nitrogenous base standpoint, what is/are the difference(s) between the basic structures of
RNA and DNA?
What is the “backbone” of a strand of DNA or RNA composed of?
What does it mean to say that a nucleic acid has become activated? Why is this important?
How was X-ray crystallography used to determine the structure of DNA? (Hint: See Bioskills 8 in the
back portion of the textbook)
Who determined the secondary structure of DNA?
What three pieces of information did the researchers who determined the secondary structure of
DNA have at their disposal?
What are Chargaff’s rules? What two concepts in the secondary structure of DNA can you relate them
to?
What determines the secondary structure of DNA? (Hint: what molecular interactions bind the two
strands together?)
What does it mean to say that “DNA is an information containing molecule”
How is a copy of a DNA molecule made? (Hint: what happens to the individual strands?)
Regarding RNA structure, what is a hairpin? What two simpler structures make up a hairpin? Why do
these form?
What does the phrase “complementary base pairing” refer to when discussing secondary structure of
DNA? Why are the two DNA strands antiparallel?
Adenine pairs with __________.
Cytosine pairs with __________.
In an RNA molecule uracil pairs with _________ because _________ is absent in RNA.
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Chapter 4 Study Guide: Nucleic Acids

What are the three basic parts of a nucleic acid? What is a phosphodiester linkage? By what type of reaction is it formed? Does this reaction result in an increase or decrease in entropy? Why? What is the basic difference between RNA and DNA from a sugar backbone standpoint? How does this affect their reactivities? From an evolutionary standpoint, why is this important? Does a strand of nucleic acid have directionality? Why? From a nitrogenous base standpoint, what is/are the difference(s) between the basic structures of RNA and DNA? What is the “backbone” of a strand of DNA or RNA composed of? What does it mean to say that a nucleic acid has become activated? Why is this important? How was X-ray crystallography used to determine the structure of DNA? (Hint: See Bioskills 8 in the back portion of the textbook) Who determined the secondary structure of DNA? What three pieces of information did the researchers who determined the secondary structure of DNA have at their disposal? What are Chargaff’s rules? What two concepts in the secondary structure of DNA can you relate them to? What determines the secondary structure of DNA? (Hint: what molecular interactions bind the two strands together?) What does it mean to say that “DNA is an information containing molecule” How is a copy of a DNA molecule made? (Hint: what happens to the individual strands?) Regarding RNA structure, what is a hairpin? What two simpler structures make up a hairpin? Why do these form? What does the phrase “complementary base pairing” refer to when discussing secondary structure of DNA? Why are the two DNA strands antiparallel?  Adenine pairs with __________.  Cytosine pairs with __________.  In an RNA molecule uracil pairs with _________ because _________ is absent in RNA.

Hydrogen bond formation is exothermic. Even though the formation of hairpins and other types of secondary structures reduce the entropy of RNA molecules, they form spontaneously; therefore, overall the formation of hairpins is a ____________ process. What is a ribozyme? How can a piece of RNA provide a mechanism for catalysis of a reaction? Why do RNA molecules have tertiary structures, while DNA molecules are limited to only secondary structure? You have two different molecules of DNA. One has a high percentage of G and C bases, while the other has a high percentage of A and T bases. Which DNA molecule is more stable? Why? What is a restriction enzyme? What determines where this enzyme functions? (Hint: web link in powerpoint) What two properties does gel electrophoresis utilize to separate DNA? (Hint: web link in powerpoint) What property of human DNA does genetic fingerprinting utilize that allows different people to have a unique “fingerprint”? (Hint: What’s a VNTR?) What two biotechnological procedures discussed in class are used in the process of genetic fingerprinting? (Hint: web link in powerpoint)