Lect 1 - Transcription and Translation

Question 1

what is the central dogma?

Answer 1

DNA - RNA - Protein

Question 2

what is a gene?

Answer 2

a proportion of the genetic code which codes for a protein or a functional RNA

Question 3

describe the process of transcription, make note of the roles of any enzymes involved

Answer 3

transcription occurs in the nucleus of cell.
it involves RNA polymerase binding to a section of DNA, unwinding it, and moving 3’ to 5’ to produce pre-mRNA.
once this process terminates, pre-mRNA contains both exons (coding) and introns (non-coding) regions, spliceosomes will remove introns to produce mRNA

Question 4

describe the process of transcription, make note of the roles of any enzymes involved

Answer 4

mRNA moves out of nucleus and attaches to ribosomes in the cytoplasm.
ribosomes are protein units that facilitate protein synthesis via translation.
ribosomal subunits move 5’ to 3’ along the mRNA, while tRNA brings in the corresponding codons which are joined together to make a polypeptide chain to form protein.