Unit 3 Lesson 1: BioFlexBook Questions
(1) What is DNA?
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the double-stranded nucleic acid that makes up genes and chromosomes. DNA is either found in the nucleus (only Eukaryotic cells), mitochondria, or the cytoplasm (only Prokaryotic cells).
(2) Are there any living organism on this planet that possess genetic material that is not DNA?
Yes, there are some types of archaea that instead of DNA, they have RNA as their genetic material. Archaea’s are Prokaryotic cells, which means that the RNA resides in the cytoplasm.
(3) What are several important properties of DNA?
DNA has several important properties including its double helix shape, instructions for the cell, and its different nitrogen bases. The double helix shape allows the DNA to unwind so that it can be copied, and also for its instructions to be used. This DNA shape also allows it to fold up into a compact chromosome so that it can transfer into new cells. Lastly, the DNA’s nitrogen bases orders themselves differently in each organism, causing many different species to be created.
(4) Does the size of the DNA molecule determine the biological complexity of the organism?
The size of the DNA molecule does not matter when determining the biological complexity of the organism. What determines the complexity are the 3 billion nitrogen bases in the DNA (for a human) that can pair together into almost an infinite amount of different combinations to create organisms.
(5) What are the building blocks of DNA? What are the building blocks of the building blocks of DNA?
The chemical building blocks of DNA are called nucleotides, which are made up of a phosphate group, a sugar group, and one of four types of nitrogen bases. The building blocks of the nucleotides are the nitrogen bases: adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine. These bases can be ordered any way possible, which determines the biological instructions in the DNA.
(6) How does your answer from Q5 contribute to evolutionary theory of L.U.C.A.?
LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor) is an organism. This evolutionary theory suggests that every living cell has descended from LUCA. Q5 was about the nitrogen bases in the DNA that determines different organisms. This contributes to because in theory, LUCA would have been the first one with nitrogen bases, and then as they were passed down, the bases started to change into different things.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the double-stranded nucleic acid that makes up genes and chromosomes. DNA is either found in the nucleus (only Eukaryotic cells), mitochondria, or the cytoplasm (only Prokaryotic cells).
(2) Are there any living organism on this planet that possess genetic material that is not DNA?
Yes, there are some types of archaea that instead of DNA, they have RNA as their genetic material. Archaea’s are Prokaryotic cells, which means that the RNA resides in the cytoplasm.
(3) What are several important properties of DNA?
DNA has several important properties including its double helix shape, instructions for the cell, and its different nitrogen bases. The double helix shape allows the DNA to unwind so that it can be copied, and also for its instructions to be used. This DNA shape also allows it to fold up into a compact chromosome so that it can transfer into new cells. Lastly, the DNA’s nitrogen bases orders themselves differently in each organism, causing many different species to be created.
(4) Does the size of the DNA molecule determine the biological complexity of the organism?
The size of the DNA molecule does not matter when determining the biological complexity of the organism. What determines the complexity are the 3 billion nitrogen bases in the DNA (for a human) that can pair together into almost an infinite amount of different combinations to create organisms.
(5) What are the building blocks of DNA? What are the building blocks of the building blocks of DNA?
The chemical building blocks of DNA are called nucleotides, which are made up of a phosphate group, a sugar group, and one of four types of nitrogen bases. The building blocks of the nucleotides are the nitrogen bases: adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine. These bases can be ordered any way possible, which determines the biological instructions in the DNA.
(6) How does your answer from Q5 contribute to evolutionary theory of L.U.C.A.?
LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor) is an organism. This evolutionary theory suggests that every living cell has descended from LUCA. Q5 was about the nitrogen bases in the DNA that determines different organisms. This contributes to because in theory, LUCA would have been the first one with nitrogen bases, and then as they were passed down, the bases started to change into different things.