sorry a few more questions
why can DNA form fibres that allow it to seprate from RNA while RNA cant form such fibres?
also, when treated with DNAse, I know DNA viscosity reduces because its cut up into smaller pieces. but on a graph of viscosity vs time, I have this relationship as linear but why?
No problem, I'm here to help!
Regarding your first question, DNA forms fibres through a process called DNA condensation, where the DNA molecules twist and fold upon themselves to form a tightly packed structure. This allows DNA to efficiently package into the nucleus of a cell. However, RNA does not typically form such fibres because its structure is different from DNA. Unlike DNA, RNA is usually single-stranded, meaning it does not have the double helix structure. Instead, RNA has a more flexible and dynamic structure that allows it to adopt various shapes and conformations to carry out its functions, such as protein synthesis or gene regulation.
As for your second question about the relationship between viscosity and time when treated with DNAse, the graph typically shows a linear relationship. This linear relationship suggests a first-order reaction. In a first-order reaction, the rate of the reaction is directly proportional to the concentration of the reactant.
When DNAse is added to the DNA solution, it cleaves the DNA molecules into smaller fragments. As time progresses, more and more DNA molecules are cut, resulting in a decrease in the concentration of intact, large DNA molecules. The viscosity of the solution directly depends on the length and size of the DNA molecules. Thus, as the DNA is cleaved into smaller pieces, the viscosity of the solution decreases. Since the decrease in viscosity is directly proportional to the decrease in the concentration of intact DNA molecules, the relationship between viscosity and time appears linear on the graph.
I hope this explanation helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.