Table of contents

1. Matter and Measurements4h 31m
2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 27m
7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
9. Solutions4h 10m
10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
17. Amines39m
18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
19. Enzymes1h 37m
20. Carbohydrates1h 41m
21. The Generation of Biochemical Energy2h 8m
22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
23. Lipids2h 26m
24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m

26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

Intro to Nucleic Acids

GOB Chemistry

26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

Intro to Nucleic Acids

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1:49 minutes

Problem 5

Textbook Question

What is the difference between ribose and deoxyribose?

Verified step by step guidance

Understand that ribose and deoxyribose are both monosaccharides, specifically pentoses, meaning they contain five carbon atoms.

Recognize that ribose is a sugar found in RNA, while deoxyribose is a sugar found in DNA. This distinction is crucial for their biological roles.

Examine the structural difference: Ribose has a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the 2' carbon, whereas deoxyribose has a hydrogen atom (-H) instead of the hydroxyl group at the same position.

Write the chemical formulas: Ribose is C₅H₁₀O₅, and deoxyribose is C₅H₁₀O₄. Note the absence of one oxygen atom in deoxyribose compared to ribose.

Understand the functional implication: The absence of the hydroxyl group in deoxyribose makes DNA more chemically stable than RNA, which is important for its role in long-term genetic storage.

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Key Concepts

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

Ribose

Ribose is a five-carbon sugar (pentose) that is a crucial component of RNA (ribonucleic acid). It has a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to each of its carbon atoms, which makes it more reactive and versatile in biochemical processes. Ribose plays a key role in the synthesis of nucleotides, the building blocks of RNA, and is involved in energy transfer through molecules like ATP.

Deoxyribose

Deoxyribose is also a five-carbon sugar, but it differs from ribose by lacking one oxygen atom; specifically, it has a hydrogen atom (-H) instead of a hydroxyl group (-OH) on the second carbon. This structural difference is significant as it contributes to the stability of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), making it less reactive than RNA. Deoxyribose is essential for forming the backbone of DNA, which carries genetic information.

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA, are biopolymers essential for all known forms of life. They are composed of long chains of nucleotides, which include a sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The differences in sugar types (ribose in RNA and deoxyribose in DNA) influence the structure and function of these molecules, impacting processes like protein synthesis and genetic inheritance.

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