Protein synthesis

• What is the process of making proteins called?

  Protein synthesis
• What are the two main steps of protein synthesis?

  • Transcription
  • Translation
• What happens during transcription?

  A single gene of DNA is copied into mRNA
• What is the role of mRNA in protein synthesis?

  It carries the genetic information from DNA to ribosomes
• Where is the genetic material of a cell contained?

  In the nucleus
• Why is DNA essential to life?

  It contains thousands of genes that code for proteins
• What are genes?

  Small sections of DNA with specific sequences of bases
• What must happen for a gene to be used to make a protein?

  A copy of the gene must be made
• What is mRNA an abbreviation for?

  Messenger RNA
• How does the structure of mRNA differ from DNA?

  mRNA is shorter, single-stranded, and contains uracil instead of thymine
• What is the role of RNA polymerase in transcription?

  • Binds to DNA before the gene starts
  • Separates DNA strands to expose bases
  • Reads DNA bases to synthesize mRNA
• What is the template strand in DNA?

  It is the strand used by RNA polymerase to make mRNA
• What is a triplet or codon?

  A group of three bases that codes for a specific amino acid
• How many different amino acids do cells use to make proteins?

  20 different amino acids
• What does the triplet 'agu' code for?

  Serine
• What does the triplet 'cca' code for?

  Proline
• What is the role of tRNA in translation?

  • Brings amino acids to the ribosome
  • Contains an anticodon that is complementary to mRNA codons
  • Ensures correct amino acids are added in the right order
• What happens when the ribosome reaches the end of the mRNA strand?

  The amino acid chain detaches and folds to form a protein
• What is the final product of translation?

  A protein
• What are the steps involved in protein synthesis?

  1. Transcription: DNA is copied into mRNA
  2. mRNA leaves the nucleus and binds to ribosome
  3. Translation: tRNA brings amino acids to ribosome
  4. Ribosome assembles amino acids into a protein