RNA and Protein Synthesis

• What is protein synthesis?

  Production of proteins from DNA information
• What are the two main stages of protein synthesis?

  Transcription and translation
• What happens during transcription?

  DNA code is copied into mRNA
• What occurs during translation?

  mRNA joins with ribosome to synthesize protein
• What is RNA?

  A single polynucleotide strand
• What base does RNA contain instead of thymine?

  Uracil
• What are the two types of RNA mentioned?

  mRNA and tRNA
• What is the function of mRNA?

  Carries genetic code from DNA to ribosomes
• What is a codon?

  Group of three adjacent bases in mRNA
• What is the role of tRNA in translation?

  It carries amino acids to the ribosomes
• What shape is tRNA folded into?

  Clover shape
• What holds the tRNA molecule in its clover shape?

  Hydrogen bonds between specific base pairs
• What is located at one end of a tRNA molecule?

  An anticodon
• What is at the other end of a tRNA molecule?

  An amino acid binding site
• What does an RNA nucleotide contain?

  Phosphate, ribose sugar, and uracil
• Which base pairs with adenine in RNA?

  Uracil
• What is the structure of mRNA?

  Single polynucleotide strand
• What are the components of a codon?

  Three adjacent bases in mRNA
• What are the key differences between mRNA and tRNA?

  • mRNA carries genetic code from DNA to ribosomes
  • tRNA carries amino acids to ribosomes
  • mRNA is a single strand; tRNA is clover-shaped
• What are the stages of protein synthesis and their functions?

  1. Transcription: DNA code copied into mRNA
  2. Translation: mRNA used to synthesize proteins at ribosomes