LATEST UPDATE 2026
gene expression - Answers processes of transcription and
translation
nucleic acids - Answers macromolecule, like lipids or carbs, that is composed of
monomers called nucleotides
nucleotides - Answers polymerized monomers that form large strands of nucleic
acids. DNA and RNA have different nucleotides.
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) - Answers the base sequence responsible for carrying
and retaining the hereditary information in a cell
deoxyribonucleotides - Answers the nucleotides that compose DNA. 3 components:
five-carbon sugar (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base
nitrogenous base - Answers nitrogen-containing ring structure responsible for
complementary base pairing between nucleic acid strands
nucleoside - Answers just the five-carbon sugar and nitrogenous base (no phosphate
group)
purines - Answers large nitrogenous bases with a double-ring structure with a six-
carbon ring fused to a five-carbon ring. adenine and guanine
pyrimidines - Answers smaller nitrogenous bases that only have a six-carbon ring
structure. cytosine and thymine (DNA) and uracil (RNA)
5'-3' phosphodiester bonds - Answers bonds between the phosphate group attached to
the 5' carbon of the sugar of one nucleotide and the hydroxyl group of the 3' carbon of
sugar of the next nucleotide. forms the sugar-phosphate backbone
antiparallel - Answers The two strands of DNA are positioned such that the 3' end of
one strand faces the 5' end of the other (strands are arranged in reverse matching
opposing ends).
complementary base pairs - Answers C and G (3 H bonds) T (or U in RNA) and A (2
H bonds). Chargaff's rules. Stabilized by hydrogen bonds.
ribonucleic acid (RNA) - Answers structurally similar to DNA, buit different as it is
shorter and single stranded and contains ribonucleotides. Important in the process of
protein synthesis (translation) and its regulation.
ribonucleotides - Answers linked by phosphodiester (2 ester) bonds and contains a
ribose, nitrogenous base, and phosphate group. Less stable than DNA.