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DNA and anticancer drugsAQA A-Level Chemistry: Mind map

What this mind map covers

  • Nucleotide
  • Single strand
  • Double helix
  • Cisplatin
  • Adverse effects

Exam questions on DNA and anticancer drugs

  1. DNA is the molecule that carries genetic information in the nucleus of a cell. A single strand of DNA is a polymer, built up from repeating units called nucleotides.
    Describe the structure of a single strand of DNA, including the position of the bases.2 marks
  2. In cells, DNA exists as two strands wound together in a double helix. The two strands are complementary, and each strand can be used as a template when the DNA is copied.
    Explain how hydrogen bonding between bases leads to the two strands of DNA being complementary.2 marks
  3. Cisplatin, cis-Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂, is a Pt(II) complex given by injection to treat some cancers. A dose is calculated from body surface area: 75 mg of cisplatin for every square metre. A patient has a surface area of 1.80 m². Relative atomic masses: Pt = 195.1, N = 14.0, H = 1.0, Cl = 35.5.
    Cisplatin binds to DNA by a ligand replacement reaction. Explain what this means and how the bond between platinum and DNA forms.3 marks
See the full worksheet

Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).