RNA and Protein Synthesis Study Notes

What is RNA?

Definition: RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) is a single-stranded nucleic acid.

What is Messenger RNA (mRNA)?

Definition: RNA that carries instructions for assembling amino acids into proteins.

What is Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)?

Definition: RNA that forms ribosomes with proteins.

What is Transfer RNA (tRNA)?

Definition: RNA that brings amino acids to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

What is Transcription?

Definition: The process of making RNA from a DNA template.

What is RNA Polymerase?

Definition: An enzyme that links RNA nucleotides during transcription.

What is an Intron?

Definition: A DNA sequence not coding for a protein.

What is an Exon?

Definition: A DNA sequence that codes for a protein.

What is a Polypeptide?

Definition: A long chain of amino acids forming proteins.

What is Genetic Code?

Definition: Codons in mRNA directing specific amino acids during protein synthesis.

What is a Codon?

Definition: A group of three nucleotide bases in mRNA specifying an amino acid.

What is Translation?

Definition: Converting mRNA base sequence into a protein's amino acid sequence.

What is an Anticodon?

Definition: Three bases on tRNA that complement a codon in mRNA.

What is Gene Expression?

Definition: The process by which a gene produces functional products like RNA or proteins.

What are Promoters?

Definition: Regions where RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription.