DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis: Key Concepts and Differences

What are the parts of a nucleotide?

pentose sugar, phosphate, nitrogen base

What type of biomolecule is DNA/RNA?

nucleic acid

what is the central dogma?

DNA -> RNA -> Protein

What is the 1st difference between DNA and RNA?

DNA is double stranded and RNA is single stranded

What is the 2nd difference between DNA and RNA?

DNA has deoxyribose sugar while RNA has ribose sugar

What is the 3rd difference between DNA and RNA?

DNA has Thymine as a nitrogenous base while RNA has Uracil

In DNA replication, what do you start with?

DNA

In DNA replication, what do you end with/produce?

Identical DNA molecules

In DNA replication, where does it take place?

nucleus

In DNA replication, what enzymes are present?

Helicase, Primase, Ligase, DNA polymerase

In DNA replication, why is it important?

makes sure every new cell receives the exact new copy of genetic information

In DNA transcription, what do you start with?

DNA

In DNA transcription, what do you end with/produce?

mRNA

In DNA transcription, where does it take place?

nucleus

In DNA transcription, what enzymes are present?

RNA polymerase

In DNA transcription, why is it important?

to transcribe DNA to mRNA for translation

In DNA translation, what do you start with?

mRNA

In DNA translation, what do you end with/produce?

polypeptide chain

In DNA translation, where does it happen?

ribosomes

In DNA translation, what enzymes are present?

tRNA, rRNA, mRNA

In DNA translation, why is it important?

to translate the mRNA code into a chain of amino acids

What does Adenine(A) pair with?

Thymine (T)

What does thymine pair with?

Adenine

What does guanine pair with?

Cytosine

What does cytosine pair with?

Guanine

What does Uracil pair with?

Adenine (RNA)

During what cell cycle does DNA replication occur?

During the Synthesis (S) phase of interphase

Why is it important that replication happens in the S phase?

to make sure each daughter cell receives the exact copy before mitosis.

Helicase

unzips the DNA in order to expose the 2 sides that need to be copied

DNA polymerase

builds the new molecule of DNA by attaching free nucleotides

Ligase

glues together fragments of DNA from the lagging strand

Primase

attaches to the DNA molecule and serves as a signal for where DNA polymerase should start building

RNA polymerase

binds only regions of DNA that have specific base sequences