Genetics and Protein Synthesis Review

Flashcards summarizing key concepts related to genes, transcription, and translation in eukaryotic cells.

What is a gene composed of?

A unique sequence of nucleotides that codes for a functional protein or an RNA molecule.

What are exons, and how do they differ from introns?

Exons are coding segments of DNA that are translated into proteins, while introns are non-coding segments that are not translated.

Are exons and introns transcribed during gene expression in eukaryotes?

Yes, both exons and introns are transcribed, but only the exons are translated into a polypeptide.

Where does transcription occur in eukaryotic cells?

In the nucleus.

What is the role of mRNA in protein synthesis?

mRNA is transcribed from DNA and is translated into an amino acid sequence at the ribosomes.

What are the four types of RNA involved in transcription and translation?

DNA, messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA).

What is the relationship between DNA codons and RNA codons?

DNA codons are transcribed into RNA codons, which correspond to specific amino acids during translation.

What is the difference between the coding and template strands of DNA?

The coding strand has the same sequence as the mRNA (except for thymine replaced by uracil), while the template strand is the one used for transcription.

In which direction are DNA strands read?

DNA strands are directional and are read from 5' to 3'.