Protein synthesis

DNA

contains the instructions to code for a protein and found in the nucleus

Nucleic acid

information molecules of living things

mRNA

Carries a complimentary copy of the DNA from the nucleus to the ribosome

tRNA

carries a specific amino acid to the ribosome to create a polypeptide strand

ribosome

made of rRNA and proteins and is the site of protein synthesis

Introns

sequence of a gene that does not code for a protein. Removed during RNA processing

Exons

sequence of a gene that code for a protein. Added together during RNA processing

monomer

A simple compound whose molecules can join together to form polymers

polymer

large compound formed from combinations of many monomers

Anti-parallel

Separate strands that run in a different direction. In a DNA molecule, one strand is in the 3' to 5' orientation, and the other is in the 5' to 3' orientation.

Gene

A segment of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific protein

allele

An alternative form of a gene.

Adenine

the nitrogenous base that hydrogen bonds with the nucleotide thymine in DNA and Uracil in RNA.

Cytosine

the nitrogenous base that hydrogen bonds with the nucleotide guanine in DNA and RNA.

Guanine

the nitrogenous base that hydrogen bonds with the nucleotide cytosine in DNA and RNA.

Thymine

the nitrogenous base that hydrogen bonds with the nucleotide adenine in DNA.

Uracil

the nitrogenous base that hydrogen bonds with the nucleotide adenine in RNA.

degenerate code

more than one codon can code for the same amino acid

gene expression

The process by which information encoded in DNA directs the synthesis of proteins

Transcription

The process of synthesising a complimentary mRNA molecule from DNA. Includes RNA processing

RNA processing

The modification of mRNA before it leaves the nucleus that is unique to eukaryotes. Removal of introns, joining of exons and addition of methyl cap and poly A tail

Translation

Process by which mRNA is decoded by the ribosome and a polypeptide is produced

Promoter

The specific region of a gene where RNA polymerase can bind and begin transcription

redundancy

a given biochemical function is encoded by two or more genes.

Poly A tail

Modified end of the 3' end of an mRNA molecule consisting of the addition of some 50 to 250 adenine nucleotides to protect the final mRNA from degradation

Methly cap

The addition of a methylated guanine on to the final mRNA transcript to support movement and guiding the mRNA into the Ribosome

pre mRNA

a form of messenger RNA that contains both introns and exons

final mRNA

Processed mRNA ready for translation, has been modified to remove introns, exons joined together, methl cap and poly A tail added

RNA polymerase

enzyme that links together the growing chain of RNA nucleotides during transcription using a DNA strand as a template

Amino acid

monomer of protein