Questions and Answers
How does a non polar R group substitution affect the folding of a protein?
A non polar R group substitution can change the structure of a protein because it will cause the
protein to fold differently. This different folding will cause the Non polar region to fold inward. Due to
the fact that structure controls function, the substitution of a non polar R group will result in a change
in function due to the structure change
How does a cytosine to thymine substitution affect the structure and function of DNA?
A change of a cytosine to a thymine will cause the guanine that was originally bonded to the cytosine
will no longer bond to the cytosine due to the base pairing rule stating that thymine only pairs with
adenine. This then causes the structure of the DNA to change. This will then alter the function of the
DNA because the Base pairing is altered.
How does a cytosine to guanine substitution affect the structure and function of DNA
The substitution of cytosine to guanine will cause the bases being paired with the original cytosine to
be changed to cytosine to abide by the base pairing rule that guanine pairs with cytosine. This will
then change the structure of the DNA causing the function of proteins created to be changed
How does a deoxyribose to ribose substitution change the structure and function of a nucleic acid?
A deoxyribose to ribose change will cause the structure of the nucleic acid to change from DNA to
RNA. This is because DNA has a deoxyribose sugar backbone and RNA has a ribose sugar backbone.
This will then change the double stranded nucleic acid to a single stranded nucleic acid.
What is the structure of a nucleic acid polymer?
A nucleic acid polymer can either have a deoxyribose sugar back bone or a ribose sugar backbone. The
polymer also has a terminal phosphate on the 5' end of the sugar and a hydroxyl on the 3' end of the
sugar. It also has nitrogenous bases that hold hereditary information
What are the "ends" of a nucleic acid called? What is present on each "end"?
The ends are called the 5' end and the 3' end. The 5' end has a phosphate and the 3' end has a
hydroxyl group.
What end of the nucleic acid grows the polymer chain?
The 3' hydroxyl end is where nucleic acids are added to the growing chain.
What are the complementary bases found in DNA and RNA?
Guanine - Cytosine
Adenine - Thymine
Uracil - Adenine
How many hydrogen bonds are between each paired base
There are two hydrogen bonds between adenine and thymine and three between cytosine and
guanine
What are the different protein structures? Describe them
Primary structure- linear