Translation: Components and tRNA-mRNA Base Pairing

What is translation?

The process in which a ribosome reads an mRNA sequence and assembles a chain of amino acids to form a protein.

Where does translation occur?

In ribosomes of both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

What must happen to mRNA before translation in eukaryotes?

It must leave the nucleus to reach the ribosomes.

What does the ribosome do during translation?

It converts the mRNA base sequence into an amino acid sequence.

What is the role of mRNA in translation?

It carries the genetic code that determines the amino acid order.

What is the role of tRNA in translation?

It transports amino acids to the ribosome according to the mRNA sequence.

Where do mRNA and tRNA come together?

In the ribosome.

What does the large ribosomal subunit do?

It binds tRNA molecules and catalyzes peptide bond formation.

How many binding sites does the large ribosomal subunit contain?

Three binding sites.

How many tRNAs can bind simultaneously in the ribosome?

Two tRNAs can bind at once to form peptide bonds.

What does the small ribosomal subunit do?

It binds to mRNA to decode the genetic message.

What pairs with each mRNA codon?

A complementary tRNA anticodon.

How are codons and anticodons related?

They are complementary base pairs.

What is meant by the universality of the genetic code?

All living organisms use the same A‑U‑C‑G coding system.