Reading notes for Chapter 8 and the DNA structure:

1.The timeline that was distributed in class helps you to see how data was used to build knowledge about the structure of DNA.  Don't memorize the dates.  Be able to put the events in order, as this shows how the scientific process was used as the structure evolved.

2.  Have an opinion on the ethics of Watson and Crick using Rosalind Franklin's data without giving her authorship. (This is one of the few times that you will have the opportunity to have an opinion about a scientific topic, but feel free to cite facts when you elaborate on your opinion.)

3.  Be able to draw the purine and pyrimidine bases, the sugars and a complete nucleotide.

4.  What are the differences between DNA and RNA?  (This makes a pretty good exam question, don't you think?)

5.  Why do nucleotide bases absorb UV light?

6.  There are two types of intermolecular forces that stabilize the double helix, hydrogen bonding and base stacking.  Describe each of these in detail.  Which one contributes more stability?

7. What experiment (describe it) determined that DNA is the molecule of inheritance?  (There are two to choose from.)

8.  What are Chargaff's rules?  Are they used for scoring olympic figure skating?  (It seems like everything else is.)

9.  Describe the double helix of B DNA.

10.  Are bases syn or anti?  What does that mean?  Why is it important?

10.  What other types of helices of DNA exist?

11.  What is a Hoogsteen pair?  Do they produce milk?

12.  What types of structures exist for RNA?

13.  There are several types of mutations: deamination, depurination, thymine dimers, 6,4 photoproducts, alkylation and oxidative damage.  Be able to describe each type of mutation, the frequency of occurance and what causes these mutations.

14.  Why is the integrity of DNA preserved, despite all of these potential mutations?

15.  How does the Sanger method differ from Maxam and Gilbert's method for sequencing DNA?

I know we don't like problems at the back of the book, but number 11 is just to good to miss.  Please take a look at it and try your hand at DNA sequencing.

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Koni Stone  CSU, Stanislaus