Define each of the following terms:
Nucleic acid strand ...

Question

Define each of the following terms:

Nucleic acid strand polarity

Accepted Answer

Welcome back. Here's our next question Which of the following statements best describes the difference between the five prime and three prime ends of a nucleic acid strand. Well, to think about that, it helps to have sort of visual of the structure of each of the units in that nucleic acid strand. So here's an example, just a generic example of one of the bases. We've got our five carbon ring here, four carbons in the ring and one outside with the oxygen. So let's number the carbons here to keep track of which would be our five prime end and our three prime end got our oxygen. Then to the right carbon one with the base attached that distinguishes the different bases. Carbon two has an O H group, carbon three, another O H group In carbon four, the last one in the ring here, then it's attached to carbon C, carbon five coming out of the ring which then has a phosphate group attached. So now we'll highlight carbon five and its phosphate group and carbon three and its hydroxide group. So with that structure in mind, let's look at our answer choices. Keeping in mind that choice D is both B and C. So we have the possibility of more than one correct answer. So let's look at choice a choice. A says the five prime end of a nuclear acid strand has a free hydroxy group. While the three prime end has a free phosphate group. Well, looking at our structure, we see this is the reverse. The five prime end has a phosphate group while the three prime end has the hydroxyl group. So we're gonna go ahead and eliminate choice A. That's not our answer choice. So let's look at choice. B. Choice B says the five prime end of nucleic acid strands is the starting point for DNA replication. While the three prime end is the end point. Well, this is correct. D N A replication starts on the five prime end and move towards the three prime end. So we're gonna mark that is correct but not choose that as our answer since we have the option of both B and C. So let's look at choice. See the five prime end of a nucleus acid strand has a phosphate group attached to the five prime carbon of the deoxyribonucleic sugar. While the three prime end of nucleic acid strand has a hydroxyl group attached to the three prime carbon of the deoxyribonucleic sugar. Well, that is correct, that has them in the right order. So C is also correct and that means that our answer here is going to be choice B both B and C correctly described the difference between the five prime and three prime ends of the nucleic acid strand. See you in the next video.

Define each of the following terms:
Nucleic acid strand polarity

Key Concepts

Nucleic Acid Structure

Strand Polarity

Antiparallel Orientation

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