Lecture 13: Transcription and RNA Processing

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts discussed in the lecture.

Central Dogma of Gene Expression

DNA to RNA to protein; fundamental to biology, explaining how genetic information determines cell characteristics.

Transcription

The process where a DNA sequence is copied to make an mRNA molecule.

Translation

The process where the information from mRNA is used to determine the sequence of amino acids in a protein.

Replication

Copying DNA, making an identical copy; DNA to DNA.

Transcription

Copying in the same language; DNA to RNA.

Translation

Going from the language of nucleotides to the language of amino acids in a protein.

mRNA

Messenger RNA, a working copy of genetic information used to make proteins.

Template Strand

The strand of DNA used as a template for RNA synthesis during transcription.

Coding Strand

The DNA strand with the same sequence as the mRNA (except T instead of U), used to determine the mRNA sequence.

RNA Polymerase

The enzyme that catalyzes transcription, producing mRNA from a DNA template.

Promoter

A specific sequence of DNA where RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription.

Transcription Factors

Proteins required in eukaryotes to help RNA polymerase bind to the promoter.

Transcription Unit

The segment of DNA from the start point to the stop point of transcription for a particular gene.