RNA: mRNA, tRNA and rRNA

Question 1

What does RNA stand for?

Answer 1

RNA stands for ribonucleic acid

Question 2

What monomer forms RNA?

Answer 2

RNA is formed form the nucleotide monomer

Question 3

What are nucleotide monomers formed from

Answer 3

Nucleotide monomers are formed from a nitrogenous base, a phosphate group and a ribose

Question 4

What are the nitrogenous bases in RNA?

Answer 4

The nitrogenous bases in RNA are uracil, guanine, adenine and cytosine

Question 5

Describe RNA’s structure

Answer 5

RNA has a relatively short polynucleotide chain and is single stranded

Question 6

What is RNA function?

Answer 6

RNA’s function is to copy and transfer genetic code from the DNA in the nucleus into the ribosomes

Question 7

What does mRNA stand for?

Answer 7

mRNA stands for messenger ribonucleic acid

Question 8

What is mRNA?

Answer 8

mRNA is a copy of a gene from the DNA

Question 9

Where is mRNA created?

Answer 9

mRNA is created in the nucleus

Question 10

What is mRNA’s function?

Answer 10

mRNA’s function is to carry a copy of genetic code from a gene to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm

Question 11

Why can’t DNA have mRNA’s role, why can’t DNA do it?

Answer 11

DNA is too large of a molecule to leave the nucleus, so since mRNA has a smaller structure it can leave the nucleus easier.

Question 12

Why does mRNA have a short life span?

Answer 12

mRNA has a short life span because it is only needed temporarily to help create a protein, therefore by the time enzymes break it down it would have already carried out its function

Question 13

What are the three bases of mRNA called?

Answer 13

A codon

Question 14

What do every three bases code for?

Answer 14

Every three bases code for a specific amino acid

Question 15

Where is tRNA located?

Answer 15

tRNA is located in the cytoplasm

Question 16

What does tRNA stand for?

Answer 16

Transfer RNA or Transfer ribonucleic acid

Question 17

What shape is formed by tRNA?

Answer 17

tRNA has a cloverleaf shape

Question 18

Describe the structure of tRNA

Answer 18

tRNA is single stranded and has a shape similar to a cloverleaf. This shape is held together by hydrogen bonds

Question 19

What is the function of tRNA?

Answer 19

tRNA attaches to one of the 20 amino acids and then transfers the amino acid to a ribosome, creating a polypeptide chain

Question 20

Do just any amino acids attach to any tRNA molecules?

Answer 20

No, specific amino acids attach to specific tRNA molecules. This is determined by the three bases that are complementary

Question 21

What are the bases on the tRNA molecule referred to as?

Answer 21

The bases on the tRNA molecule are called the anticodon

Question 22

Why are the bases on the tRNA molecule referred to as the anticodon?

Answer 22

The three bases on the mRNA are called a codon and the complimentary bases on the tRNA are called the anti - codon

Question 23

What does rRNA do?

Answer 23

rRNA makes the bulk of ribosomes

Question 24

What two rRNA makes the complete ribosome 70s?

Answer 24

rRNA is made from a small ribosome subunit (30s) and a large ribosome subunit (50s)

Question 25

What is the difference between RNA and DNA within their monomers?

Answer 25

1. They have different bases - DNA has the thymine base and RNA has the uracil base
2. They different pentose sugars - DNA has the deoxyribose pentose sugar and RNA has the ribose pentose sugar

Question 26

What is the difference between RNA and DNA within their polymers?

Answer 26

1. DNA is double stranded and RNA is single stranded
2. They have different structures - DNA has a larger shape as it contains the entire genome and RNA has a shorter structure as its the length of one gene