Protein Synthesis

• What is protein synthesis 


  The process by which cells produce proteins
• What is a basic definition of Transcription


  The process of taking a single gene of DNA and copying it into a structure called mRNA
• What is a basic definition for Translation


  The process of taking this mRNA strand and using it to produce a protein
• Where is the genetic material of a cell held?


  In the nucleus of the cell
• What form does the genetic material have

  DNA
• What is the structure of DNA

  Two strands, double helix structure
• What is DNA made up of?


  Genes
• What are the four bases that a gene can have

  Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Guanine
• What does Adenine pair to?

  Thymine
• What does Cytosine pair to?


  Guanine
• What do genes have concerning protein synthesis?


  A specific sequence of bases, which code for a specific sequence of amino acids that combine to make a particular protein.
• What does the specific sequence of bases need to be read by to make a protein?

  A ribosome
• Where are the ribosomes located

  Outside the nucleus
• Why can't the DNA leave the nucleus?


  It is too big
• What needs to be done to a gene if it is needed to make a protein?

  It needs to be copied
• What is this copy called?

  mRNA (messenger RNA)
• Why can mRNA be read by ribosomes?


  Because they are copies of single genes, so they are small enough to leave the nucleus
• What is the structure of mRNA similar to?


  DNA
• What is Difference (1) between mRNA and DNA?

  mRNA is much shorter than DNA
• What is Difference (2) between mRNA and DNA?


  mRNA is only a single strand, while DNA is a double strand
• What is Difference (3) between mRNA and DNA?


  mRNA contains the base Uracil instead of the base Thymine that is found in DNA
• What is the name of the enzyme used in the process of transcription?

  RNA Polymerase
• Where does the RNA Polymerase bind to at the start of the process?

  Just before where the gene starts