Chapter 3 - Protein Synthesis

Question 1

What is the main difference between mRNA and tRNA

Answer 1

tRNA links to a specific amino acid.
tRNA recognises mRNA with its own anticodon.
Only mRNA has codons.

Question 2

What are the naturally occurring configurations of amino acids and carbohydrates?

Answer 2

Amino acids are ‘alpha amino acids’ with the L configuration (that can then become S.
Carbohydrate configuration is D configuration

Question 3

What does the pH of amino acids depend on?

Answer 3

Amino acids can be neutral, acidic, basic, hydrophillic or hydrophobic depending on their side chains

Question 4

What is likely the △H and △G associated with forming a molecule?

Answer 4

Forming a molecule requires energy therefore the △H is +ve and △G is also positive, further meaning not spontaneous