Table of contents

1. Introduction to Genetics51m
2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
8. DNA Replication1h 10m
9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
10. Transcription1h 0m
11. Translation58m
12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
14. Genetic Control of Development44m
15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
16. Transposable Elements47m
17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- Genetic Cloning
  9m
- Methods for Analyzing DNA
  9m
19. Cancer Genetics29m
- Overview of Cancer
  21m
- Cancer Mutations
  7m
20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
21. Population Genetics50m
- Hardy Weinberg
  19m
- Allelic Frequency Changes
  31m
22. Evolutionary Genetics29m

7. DNA and Chromosome Structure

DNA Structure

Genetics

7. DNA and Chromosome Structure

DNA Structure

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2:12 minutes

Problem 9a

Textbook Question

Consider the sequence 3'-ACGCTACGTC-5'.
What is the double-stranded sequence?

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Identify the given sequence as the 3' to 5' strand: 3'-ACGCTACGTC-5'.

Recall the base-pairing rules in DNA: Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T), and Cytosine (C) pairs with Guanine (G).

Write the complementary strand by pairing each base with its complement, ensuring the complementary strand is written in the 5' to 3' direction.

Reverse the complementary sequence to ensure it is properly oriented as 5' to 3'.

Combine the original strand and the complementary strand to represent the double-stranded DNA sequence, with the original strand on top and the complementary strand below.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

DNA Structure

DNA is composed of two strands that form a double helix, with each strand consisting of nucleotides. Each nucleotide contains a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base. The bases pair specifically: adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G). Understanding this structure is essential for determining complementary sequences.

Complementary Base Pairing

Complementary base pairing is the principle that dictates how nucleotides pair in DNA. In a double-stranded DNA molecule, A pairs with T and C pairs with G. This pairing is crucial for accurately determining the complementary sequence of a given single-stranded DNA sequence, as it ensures the fidelity of genetic information.

Directionality of DNA Strands

DNA strands have directionality, indicated by the 5' and 3' ends. The 5' end has a phosphate group, while the 3' end has a hydroxyl group. When determining the complementary sequence, it is important to maintain the correct orientation, as the complementary strand will run in the opposite direction (antiparallel) to the original strand.

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Textbook Question

The following figure (Figure 1.6) presents simplified depictions of nucleotides containing deoxyribose, a nucleotide base, and a phosphate group. Use this simplified method of representation to illustrate the sequence 3'-AGTCGAT-5' and its complementary partner in a DNA duplex.

What kind of bonds join the C in one strand to the G in the complementary strand?

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Textbook Question

What kind of bond joins the C to G within a single strand?

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Textbook Question

Consider the sequence 3'-ACGCTACGTC-5'.

What is the total number of noncovalent bonds joining the nucleotides of the complementary strands?

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Textbook Question

Consider the sequence 3'-ACGCTACGTC-5'.

What is the total number of covalent bonds joining the nucleotides in each strand?

831

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Textbook Question

Draw the chemical structure of the three components of a nucleotide, and then link the three together. What atoms are removed from the structures when the linkages are formed?

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Textbook Question

How are the carbon and nitrogen atoms of the sugars, purines, and pyrimidines numbered?

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Textbook Question

Human adult hemoglobin is a tetramer containing two alpha (α) and two beta (β) polypeptide chains. The α gene cluster on chromosome 16 and the β gene cluster on chromosome 11 share amino acid similarities such that 61 of the amino acids of the α-globin polypeptide (141 amino acids long) are shared in identical sequence with the β-globin polypeptide (146 amino acids long). How might one explain the existence of two polypeptides with partially shared function and structure on two different chromosomes?

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Textbook Question

Adenine may also be named 6-amino purine. How would you name the other four nitrogenous bases, using this alternative system? (O is indicated by 'oxy-,' and CH₃ by 'methyl.')

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