Worked solutions to student book questions

Chapter 13 DNA
Q1.
Copy the structural formula of deoxyribose sugar. Now indicate where covalent bonds
form to link this group to:
a a phosphate group
b a base group
A1.

Q2.
Give the sequence of bases that will pair with a sequence of
5-AAACCTGAACGA-3.
A2.
TTTGGACTTGCT
Q3.
a
b
c

What structural similarities do the purine bases adenine and guanine share?
What structural similarities do the pyrimidine bases cytosine and thymine share?
In terms of the structure of these bases, explain how the two polymer chains of
phosphate and deoxyribose sugar in the double helix bring about a constant
separation along the length of the DNA molecule.

A3.
a
b
c

Adenine and guanine are derivatives of purine (Figure 13.2a).

Cytosine and thymine are derivatives of pyrimidine (Figure 13.2b).
The width of the double helix (the ladder when the double helix untwists) is
constant because one purine base is hydrogen bonded to one pyrimidine base.

Heinemann Chemistry 2 4th edition Enhanced

Copyright Pearson Australia 2010 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd)

Worked solutions to student book questions

Chapter 13 DNA
Q4.
a

i
ii

i
ii

What structural change occurs in the DNA of a person who suffers from
sickle-cell anaemia?
How does this change affect the polypeptide chains of their haemoglobin
molecules?
What structural change occurs in the DNA of a person who suffers from
cystic fibrosis?
How does this change affect the polypeptide chains of their transmembrane
chloride-transport molecules?

A4.
a

i
ii

i
ii

Thymine is replaced by adenine at one point in the DNA sequence on

chromosome number 11.
The sixth amino acid in the -globin polypeptide chains is valine, instead of
glutamic acid.
A sequence of just three nucleotides is missing on chromosome 7.
One phenylalanine molecule is omitted from sequence of amino acids used to
make the chloride transport polypeptide chain.

E1.
Why would the hair sample found on the murdered child not be suitable for producing
a DNA profile similar to the ones shown in Figures 13.18on page 218 of the student
book?
AE1.
The DNA profiles were prepared using DNA found in the nuclei of cells. Hair cells do
not have a nucleus so mitochondrial DNA is used for profiling.
E2.
Suggest the ways in which mitochondrial DNA might become contaminated from an
external source before analysis.
AE2.
Mitochondrial DNA may be contaminated from cells:
discarded by other people or animals (e.g. skin, hair) who have been to the
crime scene before collection of samples for forensic analysis
discarded by police or the analyst if correct procedures (e.g. gloves for
handling samples) are not followed
E3.
Discuss the similarities and differences in mtDNA of Tsar Nicholas, his wife, their
daughters and the imposter.
AE3.
The Tsar and his daughters have same mtDNA profile; the impostor will have a
different mtDNA profile from the Tsar. They will have different profiles unless she is
related to the Tsar via maternal links.

Heinemann Chemistry 2 4th edition Enhanced

Copyright Pearson Australia 2010 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd)

Worked solutions to student book questions

Chapter 13 DNA
Q5.
Make a flow chart of the steps involved in producing DNA profiles such the one
shown in Figure 13.15 or 13.16.
A5.
DNA is
extracted

Tissue is
collected

Restriction enzymes cut DNA

in segments of varying length

Fragments separated by
size using
electrophoresis

Fragments labelled with

radioactive DNA or
fluorescent dyes

DNA segments are duplicated

through a sequence of
denaturation, annealing, and
elongation

Position of bands determined by UV

light or computer-controlled lasers

Heinemann Chemistry 2 4th edition Enhanced

Copyright Pearson Australia 2010 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd)

Worked solutions to student book questions

Chapter 13 DNA
Chapter review
Q6.
a
b

Draw structural formulas for the bases adenine and thymine, showing clearly how
hydrogen bonds form during complementary base pairing.
Draw structural formulas for the bases cytosine and guanine, showing clearly
how hydrogen bonds form during complementary base pairing.

A6.
a, b

Q7.
Sketch a single nucleotide that includes the base thymine.
A7.

Heinemann Chemistry 2 4th edition Enhanced

Copyright Pearson Australia 2010 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd)

Worked solutions to student book questions

Chapter 13 DNA
Q8.
A segment of DNA includes the base sequence GATTATCAA. List the base sequence
on the complementary strand of the molecule.
A8.
CTAATAGTTA
Q9.
a
b

List three diseases that result from changes in the base sequence on a gene.
By referring to the inherited disease sickle-cell anaemia, explain how a small
change in the nucleotide sequence in a protein-coding region of a DNA molecule
can have serious biochemical consequences.

A9.
a
b

cystic fibrosis, PKU, sickle-cell anaemia

Just one missing nucleotide in the DNA sequence that codes for haemoglobin
production causes a defective molecule in red blood cells, so that they change
shape where oxygen concentration is low. The red blood cells have a shorter
lifespan and this causes anaemia.

Q10.
a
b
c

What is a repeating base sequence?

Give an example of a repeating base sequence, including the number of the
chromosome on which it is found.
Explain the significance of repeating base sequences to forensic analysis.

A10.
a
b
c

Repeating base sequences are found in the non-coding sections of DNA. In these
regions a sequence of bases may be repeated several times. The number of times
these base sequences are repeated varies between individuals.
The AGAT base sequence found on chromosome number 5 may be repeated
between seven and 15 times.
The number of times a base sequences repeats varies between individuals. The
number of repeating base sequences at ten locations across various chromosome
pairs is considered sufficiently accurate to identify an individual.

Q11.
Describe the ways in which those sections of DNA used for forensic analysis can
differ from individual to individual.
A11.
The non-coding part of DNA is used in forensic analysis. In these regions a sequence
of bases may be repeated. The number of times a sequence of bases is repeated varies
from individual to individual. In DNA profiling, the repeating base sequences are cut
using special restriction enzymes and thousands of these segments are duplicated.
They are separated on the basis of their size by gel electrophoresis. This pattern of
bands of DNA fragments is unique to an individual.

Heinemann Chemistry 2 4th edition Enhanced

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Worked solutions to student book questions

Chapter 13 DNA
Q12.
Explain why a DNA molecule is able to produce a replica of itself.
A12.
Because nitrogen base pairing ensures that the opposite polymer strand is produced
from each half of the double helix
Q13.
How are DNA databases useful for forensic analysis?
A13.
To eliminate individual from suspicion; to identify the culprit of a crime, to identify
victims of a natural disaster or terrorist actions
Q14.
Why might the reliability of DNA fingerprinting be questioned and withdrawn as
evidence in a court case?
A14.
Contamination of the DNA sample by DNA from another individual.
Q15.
A database of DNA fingerprints of everyone in the country should be established.
Discuss the merits and disadvantages of this proposal with your class members. You
might consider the following questions in your discussion.
a Should such a database contain both coding and non-coding DNA sequences?
b Who should have access to a DNA database? Police and security services?
Private organisations such as insurance companies?
A15.
Issues that could be considered:
Non coding sequences vary between individuals while coding sequences are
similar.
DNA profiles uses to non coding sequences to identify individuals
Coding sequence could be used by insurance companies to determine whether
or not an individual suffers from a disease and deny them insurance cover.
Q16.
a
b

How does mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) differ from nuclear DNA?

Give an example to illustrate the usefulness of mtDNA in forensic analysis.

A16.
a

Nuclear DNA is only found in the 46 chromosomes in the nucleus of the cell and
contain the genetic code that controls the protein synthesis. MtDNA is found
outside the nucleus and controls energy releasing reactions. Because cells contain
many thousands of copies of mtDNA, there is in some circumstances a better
chance of extracting this than extracting nuclear DNA
Identification of the bodies of the Tsar and his family 60 years after their
execution.

Heinemann Chemistry 2 4th edition Enhanced

Copyright Pearson Australia 2010 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd)

Worked solutions to student book questions

Chapter 13 DNA
Q17.
Distinguish between the primary, secondary and tertiary structures of DNA.
A17.
The sequence of nitrogen bases along the sugarphosphate backbone that forms the
primary structure; covalent bonds are responsible for producing the primary structure
of DNA.
The right-handed double helix formed a pair of DNA polynucleotide strands is the
secondary structure; hydrogen bonding is responsible for maintaining the secondary
structure.
The tertiary structure refers to the way DNA molecules wrap around histones and
become supercoiled.
Q18.
a Outline the main steps in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
b Why is PCR such an important tool in forensic analysis?
A18.
a Each cycle involves three stages:
1. Denaturation: The DNA fragments are heated so that hydrogen bonding
between the DNA strands are broken.
2. Annealing: The mixture is cooled so that primers bond to the start and end of
the sequence to be copied.
3. Elongation: The mixture is heated so that complementary base pairs are added
to the single DNA strands to form a double strand of DNA.
b to increase the amount of DNA available for testing
Q19.

Figure 13.19
Figure 13.19 shows a small segment of a strand of DNA.

a
b
c

Identify that part of the strand that represents a nucleotide.

Name the species that have combined to form the nucleotide.
What type of reactions are involved in the formation of nucleotides?

Heinemann Chemistry 2 4th edition Enhanced

Copyright Pearson Australia 2010 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd)

Worked solutions to student book questions

Chapter 13 DNA
A19.
a Adenosine monophosphate nucleotide (top), cytosine monophosphate nucleotide
(lower)
b Phosphate, deoxyribose, adenine (top). Phosphate, deoxyribose, cytosine (lower)
c Condensation reactions, as shown in Figure 13.6 on page 207 of the student book.

Heinemann Chemistry 2 4th edition Enhanced

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