1.3.4 - The genetic code

Question 1

where does translation occur?

Answer 1

on the surface of ribosomes

Question 2

what is translation?

Answer 2

process by which proteins are produced, by RNA, using the genetic code found in the DNA

Question 3

what is the genetic code?

Answer 3

the arrangement of bases (they carry the genetic code)
DNA is split into exons and introns
it is non-overlapping
and degenerate

Question 4

what is a gene?

Answer 4

a sequence of bases on a DNA molecule.
It contains coding for a sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain that affect a characteristic in the phenotype of an organism

Question 5

what is a codon?

Answer 5

a sequence of three bases on the DNA or RNA

Question 6

what does a degenerate code mean?

Answer 6

that if a mutation were to occur to the last base in the triplet, the amino acid wouldn’t change
this is because the first 2 bases code for the same protein
therefore, there would be no effect on the organism
(it at least partly protects)