All About RNA

Question 1

What are the four bases of RNA?

Answer 1

Adenine-Uracil Cytosine-Guanine

Question 2

What is the definition of DNA versus RNA?

Answer 2

DNA has the genetic codes to control cell activities and create proteins.
RNA copies and translates genetic codes to build these proteins.

Question 3

What is mRNA?

Answer 3

Stands for messager RNA. Is single-stranded. Copies the genetic code from DNA and carries it to the ribosomes to create proteins.

Question 4

What is tRNA?

Answer 4

Stands for transfer RNA. Shaped like a T. Transfers specific amino acids by carrying them to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

Question 5

What is rRNA?

Answer 5

Makes up ribosomes. Holds mRNA in place at the ribosome and catalyzes peptide bond formation.

Question 6

What is transcription?

Answer 6

Making an mRNA copy of a gene on DNA in the nucleus.

Question 7

What is translation?

Answer 7

Turning the copied mRNA into protein by decoding the mRNA at the ribosome.

Question 8

What is a codon?

Answer 8

Three mRNA bases= 1 codon

Each codon= 1 amino acid

Question 9

What is an anti-codon?

Answer 9

3 nucleotides sequence complementary to the codon in an mRNA sequence.
Found at one end of a tRNA molecule.

Question 10

Describe transcription in depth.

Answer 10

1. RNA polymerase binds to DNA at the start of a gene called the promoter, this causes DNA to unzip and RNA polymerase begins adding matching complementary RNA nucleotides to DNA nucleotides.
2. The nitrogenous base Uracil replaces Thymine.
3. Once the termination sequence is reached, mRNA was just constructed in the nucleus to serve as a messenger.

Question 11

Describe translation in depth.

Answer 11

1. mRNA leaves the nucleus to the cytoplasm to begin translation and binds to ribosomes made of rRNA. tRNA is nearby.
2. mRNA decoded by codons (3 bases at a time) to determine the sequence of amino acids. The start codon codes for the amino acid, methionine.
3. As mRNA continues to move along the ribosome being translated, specific tRNA molecules base-pair their anticodon with the mRNA codon.
4. When two amino acids are in place, they are linked by a peptide bond.
5. The process continues until one stop codon is reached. This signals the end of protein synthesis and the chain of amino acids is in their primary structure.

Question 12

What is deletion?

Answer 12

When a base is lost/deleted.

Question 13

What is insertion?

Answer 13

When a base is added.

Question 14

What type of mutation does insertion and deletion cause?

Answer 14

Deletion and Insertion may cause what’s called a frameshift mutation, meaning the reading ”frame” changes, thus changing the amino acid sequence from this point forward.

Question 15

What types of mutations does substitution cause?

Answer 15

Causes missense, nonsense, or a silent mutation.

Question 16

What is a silent mutation?

Answer 16

When only one codon is changed, it doesn’t affect the amino acid.

Question 17

What is substitution?

Answer 17

When a base is replaced.

Question 18

What is a missense mutation?

Answer 18

When the codon(s) are changed, and the amino acid is affected.

Question 19

What is a nonsense mutation?

Answer 19

The codon changes the amino acid to a “stop” codon before the sequence is finished.