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1. Why is DNA more stable than RNA? What is the physiologic significance of this

ID: 1078478 • Letter: 1

Question

1. Why is DNA more stable than RNA? What is the physiologic significance of this variability in stability?

2. What forces drive the formation of double helical DNA? What forces stabilize the final structure? What forces drive the formation of complex structures in RNA? What forces stabilize the final structures?

3. Briefly describe the process of DNA melting. What is the hyperchromic effect and how is it used to determine the state (native or denatured) of DNA?

4.List the general differences between A-DNA, B-DNA, and Z-DNA with regard to: a) properties of the central cavity. b) the characteristics of the major and minor grooves. c) the puckering of the ribofuranose ring.

5.When are A-, B-, and Z-DNA thought to occur in vivo?

6. Explain why a 3’-OH group is essential for polymerization of nucleotides. Why is a NTP also essential for this reaction to occur?

7. How does the structure of cytosine differ from that of cytidine. How does the structure of cytidine differ from that of cytidylate?

Explanation / Answer

1. Why is DNA more stable than RNA? What is the physiologic significance of this