Biology: DNA Replication and Protein Synthesis

nucleotide

nucleotide

monomer of nucleic acids made up of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid; the genetic material that carries information about an organism that is passed from parent to offspring AND is used by an individual as the recipe for making proteins

DNA replication

process of copying the DNA molecule

cytosine

Nitrogen base that pairs with guanine.

guanine

Nitrogen base that pairs with cytosine.

thymine

nitrogen base found ONLY in DNA that pairs with adenine

adenine

nitrogen base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA

Watson and Crick

Figured out structure of DNA was a double helix

messenger RNA

RNA that copies the coded message from DNA in the nucleus and carries the message into the cytoplasm

transfer RNA

type of RNA molecule that transfers amino acids to ribosomes during protein synthesis

ribosomal RNA

RNA that is in the ribosome and guides the translation of mRNA into a protein (acts as the glue)

transcription

the process of synthesizing RNA by using one strand of a DNA molecule as a template

RNA

ribonucleic acid; a nucleic acid that plays an important role in the production of proteins

translation

Process in which mRNA attaches to the ribosome and a protein is assembled

codon

three-nucleotide sequence on messenger RNA that codes for a single amino acid

anticodon

group of three bases on a tRNA molecule that are complementary to an mRNA codon

triplet code

3 bases of DNA that code for a single amino acid

mutation

a change in a cell's genetic material. Once the genetic material has changed, the change is inherited by the offspring of that CELL

gene

sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and thus determines a trait

polypeptide

synonym for protein; chain of amino acids

4 bases of DNA

adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine

The sides of DNA are alternating and made up of:

sugars and phosphates that provide support for the DNA molecule. These sides are often called the backbone of DNA

DNA steps

base pairs joined by weak hydrogen bonds

DNA shape

a double helix or twisted ladder

Semi-conservative

One half of a new strand is old and then the other half is new

3 types of RNA

mRNA, tRNA, rRNA

Transcription

portion of DNA strand is copied forming RNA

Translation

protein is formed by joining amino acids. The sequence of mRNA bases is converted into an animo acids sequence

Steps of transcription

1.) DNA unzips

2.) Nucleotides bond to one side of DNA (Uracil bonds with Adenine)

3.) bases are joined together- mRNA leaves nucleus and enters cytoplasm

Codon

a set of 2 base pairs, each code for one animo acid

Anti-codon

Compliments the codon, attaches to mRNA carrying a specific amino acid