FSL Translation

• What is meant by the genome?


  All genes in a cell
• What is the proteome?


  All proteins produced by the genome
• How many pairs of chromosomes do humans have?

  23 pairs
• What does the nucleotide sequence of a gene determine?


  Amino acid sequence of a polypeptide
• What is the role of messenger RNA (mRNA)?


  To determine amino acid sequence
• What are the triplets in mRNA called?

  Codons
• What is the genetic code?


  Triplets that encode amino acids
• What does it mean that the genetic code is degenerate?


  Most amino acids have multiple triplets
• What does non-overlapping mean in the context of the genetic code?


  No base is read more than once
• What is the start triplet also known as?


  Start codon
• What are stop triplets responsible for?


  Determining where translation stops
• What is the role of transfer RNA (tRNA) in translation?


  Brings amino acids to the ribosome
• What does the anticodon on tRNA do?


  It is complementary to the mRNA codon
• What is formed between two amino acids during translation?


  A peptide bond
• What enzyme catalyzes the formation of peptide bonds?


  Peptidyl transferase
• What provides energy for peptide bond formation?


  ATP
• What happens when the ribosome reaches a stop codon?


  The polypeptide chain is released
• What can happen once the first ribosome starts translating?


  Another ribosome can attach to mRNA
• What is the result of multiple ribosomes translating the same mRNA?


  Rapid production of polypeptides
• What are the stages of translation?

  1. mRNA binds to ribosome
  2. tRNA with complementary anticodon attaches (to codon on mRNA)
  3. Peptide bond forms between amino acids
  4. Ribosome moves to the next codon
  5. Process repeats until a stop codon is reached
  6. Polypeptide chain is released
• What are the key features of the genetic code?

  • Degenerate: multiple triplets for most amino acids
  • Non-overlapping: no base is read more than once
  • Universal: same triplets encode same amino acids across organisms
• What is the relationship between mRNA, tRNA, and ribosomes in translation?

  • mRNA carries the genetic code
  • tRNA brings specific amino acids
  • Ribosomes facilitate the assembly of amino acids into polypeptides