6.3 Transcription and RNA Processing

    Cards (8)

    • Genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to protein
    • RNA molecules are used to facilitate protein synthesis using DNA information
    • Ribosomes contain RNA and assemble proteins
    • Transcription is the process in which RNA polymerase directs the formation of an mRNA molecule
    • DNA strands become separated during transcription
    • One DNA strand serves as a template (non-coding strand, minus strand, or antisense strand) while the other is the non-template (coding) strand
    • RNA polymerase synthesizes mRNA in the 5' to 3' direction by reading the DNA in the 3' to 5' direction
    • Three types of RNA molecules:
      • Messenger RNA (mRNA): carries genetic information from DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis
      • Transfer RNA (tRNA): carries specific amino acids and has an anticodon for base pairing with mRNA codons
      • Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): functional unit of ribosomes responsible for protein assembly
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