Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to nucleic acids and the processes of transcription and translation in protein synthesis.

Nucleotides

The basic building blocks of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

Ribose

The sugar found in RNA, which differs from deoxyribose in DNA.

Transcription

The process of copying a gene from DNA to mRNA.

mRNA (Messenger RNA)

A single uncoiled chain that carries genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm.

tRNA (Transfer RNA)

A molecule that binds specific amino acids and delivers them to the ribosome during protein synthesis.

rRNA (Ribosomal RNA)

The most abundant type of RNA, which forms the structural component of ribosomes.

Central Dogma

The framework describing the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.

Codon

A sequence of three mRNA nucleotides that codes for a specific amino acid.

Start Codon

The first codon of a messenger RNA transcript that is translated by a ribosome; AUG is the start codon.

Stop Codon

A codon that signals the termination of translation; examples include UAA, UAG, and UGA.

Introns

Non-coding sequences of DNA that are removed during RNA processing.

Exons

Coding sequences of DNA that are retained in the final RNA transcript.

RNA Polymerase

An enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template during transcription.

Anticodon

A sequence of three nucleotides in tRNA that is complementary to a corresponding codon in mRNA.