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
• What is contained in the nucleus of almost every cell?

  All the genetic material in the form of DNA
• 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
• How do genes relate to amino acids?

  They code for specific sequences of amino acids
• What is the function of ribosomes in protein synthesis?

  They read mRNA to produce proteins
• What does mRNA stand for?

  Messenger RNA
• Why can't DNA leave the nucleus?

  Because it is too large
• What are the key structural differences between mRNA and DNA?

  mRNA is shorter, single-stranded, and contains uracil instead of thymine
• What is the process of transcription in detail?

  1. RNA polymerase binds to DNA before the gene starts.
  2. DNA strands separate to expose bases.
  3. RNA polymerase reads DNA bases and synthesizes mRNA.
  4. mRNA bases are complementary to DNA bases (A-U, T-A, C-G, G-C).
  5. RNA polymerase detaches after synthesizing the entire mRNA strand.
• What is the template strand in transcription?

  The DNA strand used 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 is the role of tRNA in translation?

  It brings amino acids to the ribosome
• How does tRNA ensure the correct amino acid is brought to the ribosome?

  Each tRNA has an anticodon that is complementary to the mRNA codon
• What is the process of translation in detail?

  1. mRNA and ribosome bind together.
  2. tRNA brings the correct amino acid to the ribosome.
  3. Ribosome joins amino acids together to form a chain.
  4. Ribosome moves along mRNA, allowing new tRNA to bind.
  5. The amino acid chain detaches and folds into a protein.
• What happens to the amino acid chain after it is formed?

  It detaches from the ribosome and folds into a protein
• What is the significance of the ribosome in protein synthesis?

  It is the site where proteins are assembled from amino acids
• How does the process of transcription differ from translation?

  Transcription copies DNA to mRNA, while translation assembles proteins from mRNA
• What is the role of the anticodon in tRNA?

  It ensures the correct amino acid is brought to the ribosome
• What is the first step in the process of translation?

  The binding of mRNA and ribosome
• What happens to the ribosome after it finishes synthesizing a protein?

  It can detach from the mRNA and be reused for another protein