Introduction to DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the fundamental processes of DNA transcription and translation, key enzymes like RNA polymerase, and the roles of mRNA and tRNA in protein synthesis.

Gene

A certain length of DNA that serves as a recipe or instructions to make a protein.

Amino acid

The individual building blocks used to construct proteins.

Enzymes

A type of protein that facilitates reactions to build other materials inside of cells.

Hemoglobin

An important protein responsible for transporting oxygen around the body.

Central Dogma

The flow of biological information from DNA to RNA and finally to protein.

Transcription

The process of copying DNA instructions into an RNA molecule within the nucleus.

mRNA

Messenger RNA; the copy of a gene that travels from the nucleus to the cytoplasm to provide instructions for protein synthesis.

Ribosome

An organelle in the cytoplasm responsible for protein synthesis and translating the mRNA message.

Translation

The process of converting nucleic acid language into protein language to create an amino acid chain.

Polypeptide

A term used as a synonym for protein, often appearing in biological diagrams.

RNA polymerase

The enzyme responsible for transcription that picks up RNA nucleotides to build an RNA copy of a gene.

Ribose

The sugar component found in RNA nucleotides.

Uracil

The nitrogenous base ($U$) found in RNA that replaces thymine ($T$).

tRNA

Transfer RNA; the molecule that picks up amino acids from the cytoplasm and transfers them to the ribosome.

Transcript

The RNA copy produced during the process of transcription.