Central Dogma

Central Dogma

The process of DNA being transcribed into mRNA and then translated into proteins.

Transcription

The synthesis of single-stranded messenger RNA (mRNA) from DNA.

RNA Polymerase

An enzyme that binds to DNA and regulates mRNA synthesis, working 5' to 3'.

What are exons?

Coding sequences of DNA that will be turned into protein.

What are introns?

Non-coding sequences of DNA that will NOT be turned into protein.

Translation

The process where mRNA is read in groups of three nucleotides (codons) and turned into a protein.

Where does transcription occur?

Transcription occurs in the nucleus.

What is the role of Transfer RNA (tRNA)?

tRNA reads codons with an anticodon and transports amino acids to the ribosome.

Ribosomes

Cellular structures made of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and protein, where translation occurs.

What does the genetic code being degenerate mean?

It means that different codons can specify the same amino acid.

bp

Base pair, a measurement of the length of genes.

What is a gene?

A certain stretch of chromosomes that may be short (500 bp) or long (2.3 million bp).

Central Dogma

The process in molecular biology that describes how genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to protein.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that holds the genetic instructions for the development and functioning of living organisms.

mRNA

Messenger RNA, a type of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

Protein

Molecules made up of amino acids that perform a variety of functions in the body.

Gene

A segment of DNA that contains the coding information for a protein.

Base Pair (bp)

A pair of complementary nucleotides that form the building blocks of DNA.

Transcription

The process of synthesizing messenger RNA from a DNA template.

RNA Polymerase

An enzyme that binds to DNA and synthesizes RNA, working from the 5' to 3' direction.

Exons

Coding sequences in DNA that are expressed in the final protein product.

Introns

Non-coding sequences in DNA that are removed during RNA processing.

Translation

The process by which mRNA is read by ribosomes to synthesize proteins.

Ribosome

A molecular machine made of rRNA and proteins that synthesizes proteins by translating mRNA.

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

A type of RNA that transports amino acids to the ribosome and reads mRNA codons.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that encodes an amino acid.

Genetic Code

The set of rules by which information encoded within genetic material is translated into proteins.