Transcription and translation

• What are the three stages of transcription?

  Initiation, elongation, termination
• What happens during the initiation stage of transcription?

  RNA polymerase binds to the promoter region
• What occurs during the elongation stage of transcription?

  RNA polymerase synthesizes a complementary mRNA strand
• What is the role of RNA polymerase in transcription?

  It synthesizes mRNA from the DNA template
• What is the purpose of transcription?

  To synthesize RNA from a DNA template
• What is the product of transcription?

  mRNA
• What is the function of the promoter in transcription?

  It signals where RNA polymerase should start
• How does RNA polymerase add nucleotides during elongation?

  It adds RNA nucleotides to the growing mRNA strand
• Which base pairs with adenine in RNA?

  Uracil
• What happens during the termination stage of transcription?

  RNA polymerase reaches a terminator sequence
• What are post-transcriptional modifications in eukaryotes?

  Processing of mRNA before it leaves the nucleus
• What are the key steps in post-transcriptional modifications?

  • Capping: Adds a 5' cap for protection
  • Polyadenylation: Adds a poly-A tail at 3' end
  • Splicing: Removes introns and joins exons
• What is the purpose of translation?

  To decode mRNA and produce a protein
• Where does translation occur?

  Cytoplasm
• What is the start codon in translation?

  AUG
• What role does tRNA play in translation?

  It brings correct amino acids to the ribosome
• What happens during the elongation stage of translation?

  tRNA molecules bind to mRNA's codons
• What is a codon?

  A set of three nucleotides on mRNA
• What is an anticodon?

  A set of three nucleotides on tRNA
• What are the key players involved in transcription and translation?

  • DNA: Genetic material for protein instructions
  • RNA Polymerase: Synthesizes mRNA from DNA
  • mRNA: Carries genetic code to ribosome
  • tRNA: Brings amino acids to ribosome
  • rRNA: Part of ribosome structure
  • Ribosomes: Machinery for translation
• What are the key differences between transcription and translation?

  | Feature | Transcription | Translation |

  |------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------------|

  | Location | Nucleus (eukaryotes) | Cytoplasm (ribosomes) |

  | Template | DNA (gene) | mRNA (copy of gene) |

  | Product | mRNA (or other RNA types) | Polypeptide (protein) |

  | Enzyme Involved | RNA polymerase | Ribosome, tRNA, various enzymes |

  | Purpose | To synthesize complementary RNA| To synthesize protein from mRNA |
• Why are transcription and translation important?

  They are essential for gene expression
• What is the final product of translation?

  Polypeptide (protein)
• What happens to the mRNA after transcription?

  It undergoes processing before leaving the nucleus
• How do codons and anticodons interact during translation?

  Anticodons pair with complementary codons