Laboratory 10: Transcription and Translation

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering gene expression, including transcription, RNA structure, the genetic code, and translation from Laboratory 10.

Transcription

The process of making an mRNA molecule using a DNA segment as a template.

Translation

The process of protein synthesis involving mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, and ribosomes, where ribosomes decode mRNA into a polypeptide chain of amino acids.

Codon

A triplet of nucleotides on the mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid according to the genetic code.

Anticodon

A triplet of nucleotides on a tRNA molecule that is complementary to an mRNA codon.

Uracil

The nitrogenous base unique to RNA that replaces thymine and base-pairs with adenine.

Ribose

The five-carbon sugar that forms part of the backbone in RNA nucleotides.

Peptide bond

The covalent bond formed by the ribosome between adjacent amino acids to grow a polypeptide chain.

Site of transcription

The nucleus, where the mRNA molecule is synthesized from DNA before moving into the cytoplasm.

Site of translation

The ribosome in the cytoplasm, where mRNA is decoded into an amino acid sequence.

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

The RNA molecule that carries a specific amino acid to the ribosome and contains an anticodon matching an mRNA codon.

AUG codon

The mRNA codon that codes for the amino acid Methionine and serves as the initiator codon for translation.

Stop codons

The three mRNA codons (UAA, UAG, and UGA) that do not code for amino acids and signal the termination of translation.