2.1.3 Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids – Protein Synthesis Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is a DNA triplet code?
A sequence of 3 nucleotide bases, which code for a particular amino acid.
Why is the genetic code described as universal?
In almost all living organisms, the same triplet of DNA bases, codes for the same amino acid.
Why is the genetic code described as non-overlapping?
It is read from a fixed point in groups of three bases.
Why is the genetic code described as degenerate?
For almost all amino acids, there is more than one base triplet code.
What is mRNA?
Messenger RNA
What is the function of mRNA?
Makes a copy of the gene in the nucleus and moves out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm.
What is a codon?
A set of 3 bases on mRNA which code for an amino acid.
What is tRNA?
Transfer RNA.
What is the function of tRNA?
Carries an amino acid to the ribosomes.
What is the structure of tRNA?
It is folded up into a clover shaped molecule and has a specific sequence of 3 bases called an anticodon on one end with an amino acid binding site at the other.
What is transcription?
Where a strand of mRNA is created.
What enzyme unzips DNA to allow for the creation of an mRNA strand?
RNA polymerase.
What does RNA polymerase allow to happen?
It breaks the hydrogen bonds so that the DNA strand is separated, and one strand can be used as a template. RNA polymerase brings free RNA nucleotides that are complementary to the original strand.
What is translation?
Translation is the process of translating the sequence of a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule to a sequence of amino acids during protein synthesis.
Where does translation take place?
At a ribosome
How is a polypeptide formed using tRNA?
Several complementary tRNA anticodons bind to the mRNA using complementary base pairing. Peptide bonds then form between the amino acids and the tRNA moves away. This leaves a polypeptide.
What is rRNA?
Ribosomal RNA
What is the function of rRNA?
It is the molecule that ribosomes are made of.
