science

Protein Synthesis

The process in a cell where a gene is copied (transcription) and then used to create a protein at the ribosome (translation).

Transcription

The first part of protein synthesis; the formation of mRNA from DNA; this process happens inside the nucleus.

Translation

The second part of protein synthesis; the formation of a protein from mRNA; this process happens in the cytoplasm of the cell.

mRNA

The RNA copy of the gene produced during transcription, made up of RNA nucleotides organized into codons.

tRNA

Specific RNA molecules found in the cytoplasm that bond to specific amino acids and eventually bond with codons at the ribosome.

Codon

A set of three nucleotides along the length of mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid.

Anticodon

A set of three nucleotides along the length of tRNA that bonds with a codon on mRNA.

Amino Acids

The building blocks or monomers of proteins; there are twenty, examples include lysine, alanine, and phenylalanine.

Ribosome

The structure in a cell that plays a major role in the production of proteins.

Start Codon

The set of three nucleotides along the length of mRNA that signals the start of protein building (AUG, which codes for methionine).

Stop Codon

A set of three nucleotides along the length of mRNA that signals the end of protein building (UGA, UAA, UAG).

mRNA Codon Wheel/Chart

A wheel that shows the 64 possible codons and their associated amino acids.