Protein Synthesis and RNA

Flashcards about Proteins and RNA

Proteins

Large molecules made up of amino acids linked together in chains that bend and fold into compact shapes.

Amino Acids

The smaller molecules that make up proteins; the human body uses 20 different amino acids.

Ribosomes

Small structures made of protein and RNA in the cytoplasm of the cell that synthesize proteins; the location of protein synthesis in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

mRNA (messenger RNA)

A messenger molecule and a form of ribonucleic acid that carries the genetic code from the DNA in a chromosome to the ribosome.

RNA

A single-stranded molecule containing ribose sugar and uracil base, different from DNA.

Transcription

The process of making mRNA from a DNA template, occurring in the nucleus of eukaryotes and cytoplasm of prokaryotes.

Codon

A sequence of three bases in mRNA that specifies an amino acid.

tRNA (transfer RNA)

A type of RNA that picks up specific amino acids and carries them to the ribosome, decoding the mRNA sequence.

Hemophilia

A condition that prevents blood from clotting normally due to a lack of certain blood-clotting proteins; also known as the 'royal disease'.

Gene

A segment of a DNA molecule that contains the coded information needed to make a specific protein.

Chromosomes

Threadlike structures within the nucleus that package DNA.

RNA polymerase

An enzyme helps to produce mRNA molecule.