Protein Synthesis

Question 1

What are proteins made of

Answer 1

Amino acids

Question 2

Codon

Answer 2

Each amino acid is coded for by a sequence of three bases in a gene - this is called a codon

Question 3

How many different bases are there

Answer 3

4:
Adenine (A)
Cytosine (C)
Guanine (G)
Thymine (T)

Question 4

What does each gene contain

Answer 4

A sequence of different bases - which is what allows it to code for a particular protein

Question 5

Two stages of making protein

Answer 5

Transcription
Translation

Question 6

Where does transcription occur

Answer 6

Nucleus

Question 7

Transcription process

Answer 7

1. DNA is in a double helix
2. This is separated by the enzyme DNA helicase
3. There is a template strand and a non-template strand
4. The strands are left separated and the bases are exposed
5. There are free RNA nucleotides within the nucleus
6. Free RNA nucleotides align with template strand due to complementary base pairings
7. The enzyme RNA polymerase forms sugar phosphate backbone in new mRNA molecule
8. mRNA detaches from strand and leaves the nucleus to go to cytoplasm
9. DNA left behind recoils back into a double helix

Question 8

Where does translation occur

Answer 8

In cytoplasm in ribosomes

Question 9

Translation process

Answer 9

1. mRNA attaches to tRNA (these float around in cytoplasm and has an anticodon and an amino acid) at the start codon
2. 1st tRNA enters the ribosome, and has complementary anticodon to codon, and brings in an amino acid
3. 2nd tRNA enters with anticodon that’s complementary to codon
4. Peptide bond forms between 2 amino acids
5. 1st tRNA molecule leaves ribosome
6. Ribosomes move along mRNA to next codon
7. Process repeats until stop codon
8. Ribosome detaches from mRNA
9. Protein formed