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Ch. 10 - DNA Structure and Analysis
Klug - Concepts of Genetics  12th Edition
Klug12th EditionConcepts of Genetics ISBN: 9780135564776Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 10, Problem 28

One of the most common spontaneous lesions that occurs in DNA under physiological conditions is the hydrolysis of the amino group of cytosine, converting the cytosine to uracil. What would be the effect on DNA structure of a uracil group replacing cytosine?

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1
Understand that cytosine normally pairs with guanine in DNA through three hydrogen bonds, maintaining the DNA double helix structure.
Recognize that when cytosine undergoes deamination, it is converted into uracil, which is not a normal base in DNA but is normally found in RNA.
Consider that uracil pairs preferentially with adenine through two hydrogen bonds, unlike cytosine which pairs with guanine.
Analyze how the presence of uracil in DNA would lead to a mismatch during DNA replication, potentially causing a C-G to T-A transition mutation if not repaired.
Conclude that the incorporation of uracil disrupts the normal base pairing and can lead to mutations, which is why cells have repair mechanisms like uracil-DNA glycosylase to remove uracil from DNA.

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Key Concepts

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

Spontaneous DNA Lesions and Deamination

Spontaneous DNA lesions are natural chemical changes that occur without external influence. Deamination is the removal of an amino group from a base, such as cytosine converting to uracil, which alters the base's identity and can lead to mutations if unrepaired.
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Base Pairing and DNA Structure

DNA structure relies on specific base pairing: cytosine pairs with guanine via three hydrogen bonds. Replacing cytosine with uracil disrupts this pairing because uracil pairs with adenine, potentially causing mismatches and destabilizing the double helix.
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DNA Repair Mechanisms for Uracil

Cells have repair systems like base excision repair to recognize and remove uracil in DNA, preventing mutations. Uracil-DNA glycosylase excises uracil bases, maintaining DNA integrity by restoring correct cytosine-guanine pairs.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

What did the Watson–Crick model suggest about the replication of DNA?

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Textbook Question

A genetics student was asked to draw the chemical structure of an adenine- and thymine-containing dinucleotide derived from DNA. The answer is shown here:

The student made more than six major errors. One of them is circled, numbered 1, and explained. Find five others. Circle them, number them 2 through 6, and briefly explain each in the manner of the example given.

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Textbook Question

Considering the information on B- and Z-DNA and right- and left-handed helices, carefully analyze structures (a) and (b) below and draw conclusions about their helical nature. Which is right-handed and which is left-handed?

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Textbook Question

In some organisms, cytosine is methylated at carbon 5 of the pyrimidine ring after it is incorporated into DNA. If a 5-methyl cytosine molecule is then hydrolyzed, what base will be generated?

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Textbook Question

Because of its rapid turnaround time, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) is commonly used in hospitals and laboratories as an aneuploid screen of cells retrieved from amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y are typically screened for aneuploidy in this way. Explain how FISH might be accomplished using amniotic or CVS samples and why the above chromosomes have been chosen for screening.

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Textbook Question

A primitive eukaryote was discovered that displayed a unique nucleic acid as its genetic material. Analysis provided the following information:

The general X-ray diffraction pattern is similar to that of DNA, but with somewhat different dimensions and more irregularity.

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