Chapter 15: Translation

Question 1

what are the start and stop codons?

Answer 1

AUG (methionine) is the start codon and UAA, UAG, and UGA are the stop codons

Question 2

what does it mean for a code to be degenerate?

Answer 2

multiple codons can code for the same amino acid

Question 3

what is translation?

Answer 3

the process of converting mRNA into amino acids through protein synthesis

Question 4

what is the primary structure of proteins?

Answer 4

the amino acid sequence

Question 5

what is the secondary structure of proteins?

Answer 5

the primary structure folds to form regular repeating shapes known as secondary structures (alpha helices and beta sheets) that are stabilized by hydrogen bonds

Question 6

what is the tertiary structure of proteins?

Answer 6

the short regions of secondary structure fold into a three-dimensional tertiary structure

Question 7

what is the quaternary structure of proteins?

Answer 7

two or more polypeptides join to make a functional protein

Question 8

what do tRNAs do during translation?

Answer 8

recognize a 3-base codon in the mRNA and carry an amino acid that is specific for that codon

Question 9

what enzyme attaches amino acids to tRNAs?

Answer 9

aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases

Question 10

what is the wobble hypothesis?

Answer 10

in the codon-anticodon recognition process the first two positions pair only to their complementary base but the third position can tolerate certain mismatches