ACS Biochemistry Study Guide | Actual Questions and Answers Latest
Updated 2024/2025 (Graded A+)
State the central dogma of genetics - ✔✔DNA can self replicate via translation
DNA is coded into RNA via transcription
RNA is made into proteins via translation
Structure of a nucleotide - ✔✔5 carbon sugar, phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base
Name the monomer of nucleic acids - ✔✔nucleotides
Describe the relative stability of DNA and RNA - ✔✔DNA is more stable than RNA because DNA lacks the
2' hydroxyl group; since DNA only has a 3' hydroxyl group, the phosphodiester bonds formed are specific
and rigid; also, the C-H bond at the 2' carbon in deoxyribose is much less reactive than the C-OH bond in
ribose
How many strands do DNA and RNA usually have - ✔✔DNA is double stranded and RNA is usually single-
stranded
Describe the function of tRNA - ✔✔contain an anticodon to the mRNA codon; deliver the corresponding
amino acid to the ribosome during translation
Describe the wobble effect - ✔✔tRNA binds much looser at the third codon so codons that call for the
same amino acid usually differ in the 3rd base; thus, a change of the third codon is less likely to have a
biological effect
Describe the degenerate nature of the genetic code - ✔✔a single amino acid is often coded for by more
than one codon (usually differ at the 3rd position)
Where is rRNA synthesized - ✔✔nucleolus
, Describe the function of rRNA - ✔✔compose the large and small subunit of the ribosome which
facilitates translation
What are siRNA molecules - ✔✔pieces of exogenous, double stranded RNA that prevent the production
of specific proteins; they bind to specific sequences on mRNA and degrade them so that a protein can no
longer by synthesized from that sequence
What are miRNA molecules - ✔✔pieces of endogenous, single stranded RNA that silence gene
expression; they are partially complementary to certain mRNA sequences which allows them to act on a
variety of sequences
List the pyrimidine bases - ✔✔thyme, cytosine, and uracil
List the purine bases - ✔✔adenine and guanine
Structure of adenine - ✔✔2 rings
amino group on the pyrimidine ring
Structure of guanine - ✔✔2 rings
amino group and carbonyl group on pyrimidine ring
Structure of thymine - ✔✔1 pyrimidine ring
methyl group and 2 carbonyl groups on ring
Structure of cytosine - ✔✔1 pyrimidine ring
amino group and carbonyl group on ring
Structure of uracil - ✔✔1 pyrimidine ring
2 carbonyl groups on ring
Updated 2024/2025 (Graded A+)
State the central dogma of genetics - ✔✔DNA can self replicate via translation
DNA is coded into RNA via transcription
RNA is made into proteins via translation
Structure of a nucleotide - ✔✔5 carbon sugar, phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base
Name the monomer of nucleic acids - ✔✔nucleotides
Describe the relative stability of DNA and RNA - ✔✔DNA is more stable than RNA because DNA lacks the
2' hydroxyl group; since DNA only has a 3' hydroxyl group, the phosphodiester bonds formed are specific
and rigid; also, the C-H bond at the 2' carbon in deoxyribose is much less reactive than the C-OH bond in
ribose
How many strands do DNA and RNA usually have - ✔✔DNA is double stranded and RNA is usually single-
stranded
Describe the function of tRNA - ✔✔contain an anticodon to the mRNA codon; deliver the corresponding
amino acid to the ribosome during translation
Describe the wobble effect - ✔✔tRNA binds much looser at the third codon so codons that call for the
same amino acid usually differ in the 3rd base; thus, a change of the third codon is less likely to have a
biological effect
Describe the degenerate nature of the genetic code - ✔✔a single amino acid is often coded for by more
than one codon (usually differ at the 3rd position)
Where is rRNA synthesized - ✔✔nucleolus
, Describe the function of rRNA - ✔✔compose the large and small subunit of the ribosome which
facilitates translation
What are siRNA molecules - ✔✔pieces of exogenous, double stranded RNA that prevent the production
of specific proteins; they bind to specific sequences on mRNA and degrade them so that a protein can no
longer by synthesized from that sequence
What are miRNA molecules - ✔✔pieces of endogenous, single stranded RNA that silence gene
expression; they are partially complementary to certain mRNA sequences which allows them to act on a
variety of sequences
List the pyrimidine bases - ✔✔thyme, cytosine, and uracil
List the purine bases - ✔✔adenine and guanine
Structure of adenine - ✔✔2 rings
amino group on the pyrimidine ring
Structure of guanine - ✔✔2 rings
amino group and carbonyl group on pyrimidine ring
Structure of thymine - ✔✔1 pyrimidine ring
methyl group and 2 carbonyl groups on ring
Structure of cytosine - ✔✔1 pyrimidine ring
amino group and carbonyl group on ring
Structure of uracil - ✔✔1 pyrimidine ring
2 carbonyl groups on ring
