Learn: Transcription and Translation

RNA

A type of nucleic acid consisting of nucleotide monomers with a ribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U); usually single-stranded; functions in protein synthesis and as the genome of some viruses.

Transcription

It is the process of transcribing or making a copy of genetic information stored in a DNA strand into a complementary strand of RNA (messenger RNA or mRNA) with the aid of RNA polymerases. Happens in the nucleus.

Translation

(genetics) the process whereby genetic information coded in messenger RNA directs the sequence of the amino acids to form polypeptide at a ribosome in the cytoplasm

mRNA

A type of RNA, synthesized from DNA or transcribed, that attaches to ribosome in the cytoplasm and specifies the primary structure of a protein. It has the codons. Recipe to make a polypeptide

tRNA

An RNA molecule that functions as an interpreter between nucleic acid and protein language by picking up specific amino acids and recognizing the appropriate codons in the mRNA. The tRNA carries the ANTI CODON.

Ribosomal RNA

type of RNA that makes up the major part of ribosomes

Codon

Group of three nucleotide bases in mRNA that specify a particular amino acid to be incorporated into a protein

Anti Codon

Group of three nucleotide bases in tRNA that specify a particular amino acid to be incorporated into a protein and it is complimentary to the codon.

Amino Acid

Molecules that are the building blocks of proteins

Ribose

A five-carbon sugar present in RNA

Polypeptide

A polymer (chain) of many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.

Protein

An organic compound that is made of one or more chains of amino acids and that is a principal component of all cells.

Genetic Code

The information encoded within the genetic material that can be translated into a protein

Gene Expression

process by which a gene produces its product and the product carries out its function

Gene

Specific section of DNA - codes for one protein

Cell Differentiation / Specialization

Cells have specific functions unique from other cells

Hydrogen Bonds

Bond holding together Nitrogen Bases (A,T,C,G,U)

Mutation

A change in the sequence of a DNA or RNA strand sometimes resulting in different traits being expressed

Nitrogen Bases

A,T,C,G, & U - the sequence of these codes for different proteins

Substitution

When one nitrogen bases is replaced with another

Insertion

When a different nitrogen bases is added (inserted) into a DNA/RNA sequence

Deletion

When a nitrogen base is removed (deleted) from a sequence of DNA or RNA

Frameshift

When a sequence of DNA or RNA is re-arranged

Nucleic Acid

Polymer of DNA/RNA

Nucleotide

Monomer of DNA/RNA

peptide bond

The chemical bond that forms between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another amino acid

RNA polymerase

an enzyme that links together the growing chain of RNA nucleotide during transcription using a DNA strand as a template

RNA processing in eukaryotes

Occurs in nucleus.

After transcription:

1.) Capping on 5' end (7-methylguanosine)

2.) Polyadenylation on 3' end (~200 A's)

3.) Splicing out of introns Only processed RNA is transported out of the nucleus.

rRNA (ribosomal RNA)

an organelle that contains most of the RNA in the cell and that is responsible for ribosome function

Nucleus

Transcription and Translation happen here

Protein synthesis

Forming proteins based on information in DNA and carried out by RNA

codon chart

shows which codon codes for a specific amino acid based on mRNA

Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

information is transferred from DNA to RNA to protein

introns and exons

In most eukaryotic genes, coding regions (exons) are interrupted by noncoding regions (introns). During transcription, the entire gene is copied into a pre-mRNA, which includes exons and introns. During the process of RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons joined to form a contiguous coding sequence.

RNA polymerase

Enzyme similar to DNA polymerase that binds to DNA and separates the DNA strands during transcription, adds complimentary RNA nucleotides

DNA polymerase

Enzyme involved in DNA replication that joins individual nucleotides to produce a DNA molecule

Amino acid attached to tRNA

tRNA transfer amino acid to the mRNA, it's the building block of polypeptide