Protein synthesis

• Cell


  The basic unit of all living tissue
• Nucleus


  • Structure found in most human cells
  • Contains the genome
• Genome


  In humans, split between 23 pairs of chromosomes
• Chromosome


  Contains a long strand of DNA tightly packaged around proteins called histones
• Gene


  Sections within the DNA that contain the instructions for making proteins
• Gene expression


  1. Gene is switched on

  2. RNA polymerase attaches to start of gene

  3. RNA polymerase moves along DNA making messenger RNA
• Transcription


  The process where the DNA code determines the order in which free bases are added to the messenger RNA
• Messenger RNA processing


  Removing and adding sections of RNA
• Ribosome


  Protein factories in the cytoplasm that bind to the messenger RNA
• Protein synthesis


  1. Ribosome reads the code in the messenger RNA

  2. Transfer RNA carries amino acids to the ribosome

  3. Amino acids are added to a growing chain

  4. Chain folds into a complex 3D shape to form the protein