Lesson 3 - Protein Synthesis and Genetic Mutations

Describe RNA

ribose nucleus acid, single helix molecule to help make proteins, in the nucleus and cytoplasm, bases: (Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, Uracil)

List the 3 types of RNA

Messanger RNA (mRNA) takes a message from DNA to the ribosome, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) makes up ribosomes where proteins are made, transfer RNA (tRNA) brings up the amino acids to the ribosomes

Describe transcription

DNA is unzipped and copied into a complementary strand of mRNA that exits the nucleus through a pore

Describe translation

mRNA attaches to a ribosome in the cytoplasm, ribosome reads mRNA 3 bases at a time called codons, tRNA brings the appropriate amino acids to lock in place with a anti-codon (complementary to mRNA), and a polypeptide chain is formed as amino acids are linked together.

starts with AUG (methionine), ends with a stop codon

Silent mutation

the wrong base has been replaced, but the codon codes for the same amino acid

Missense mutation

the wrong base has been replaced, amino acid is changed

Nonsense mutation

substitutes a stop codon for an amino acid

Frameshift mutation

extra base is added or deleted, causing every amino acid after the error to be incorrect