Protein synthesis

• What is the primary location where protein synthesis occurs?

  Ribosome
• What are the two main stages of protein synthesis?

  1. Transcription
  2. Translation
• What happens during transcription?

  A gene is copied into mRNA
• Where does transcription take place?

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

  It is too big to leave
• What is the form of the copy made during transcription?

  Messenger RNA (mRNA)
• What is the purpose of mRNA?

  To carry genetic information to ribosomes
• How many genes do humans have approximately?

  23,000 genes
• What is the first step of transcription?

  Unwind the DNA double helix
• Which enzyme is used to unwind the DNA during transcription?

  DNA helicase
• What do RNA nucleotides do during transcription?

  Align opposite their complementary DNA bases
• What type of bonds join RNA nucleotides together?

  Phosphodiester bonds
• What is pre-mRNA?

  Initial mRNA before modification
• What is splicing in mRNA processing?

  Removing introns from pre-mRNA
• What are introns?

  Non-coding sequences in DNA
• What is the role of a spliceosome?

  To remove introns from pre-mRNA
• What remains in mRNA after splicing?

  Exons, the coding regions
• What is the process of translation?

  • mRNA attaches to ribosome
  • tRNA brings specific amino acids
  • Peptide bonds form between amino acids
  • Continues until stop codon is reached
• What is the start codon?

  First three bases of mRNA
• What does each tRNA molecule carry?

  A specific amino acid
• What is the role of the ribosome during translation?

  Holds mRNA and tRNA in place
• What happens when the ribosome reaches a stop codon?

  Translation ends and ribosome detaches
• What is the final product of translation?

  Polypeptide chain
• What happens to the polypeptide chain after translation?

  It goes to the Golgi body for modifications
• What is the significance of ATP in protein synthesis?

  • Provides energy to form peptide bonds
  • Required for ribosome movement
  • Essential for tRNA attachment
• What is the primary structure of a protein?

  Sequence of amino acids
• How does the polypeptide chain achieve its final 3D shape?

  Through folding and modifications in the Golgi body
• What is the role of complementary base pairing in transcription?

  Ensures correct alignment of RNA nucleotides
• Why is the ribosome essential in protein synthesis?

  It holds mRNA and tRNA together
• What is alternative splicing?

  Process of producing different mRNA from the same gene
• What is the function of the Golgi body in protein processing?

  To modify and fold proteins into their final shape
• What does the stop codon signify in translation?

  It signals the end of protein synthesis
• How do introns and exons relate to genetic coding?

  Exons code for proteins, introns do not